A casino is a facility for certain types of gambling. Traditionally, the term referred to an establishment with card tables and dice games, but modern casinos often include a full range of entertainment options. Some are part of large resorts with hotels, restaurants, and retail shops; some are stand-alone buildings. Some casinos are devoted to specific games, such as baccarat or poker; others feature a variety of gaming activities, such as sports betting and slot machines.

While Vegas has always linked its fortunes to gambling, the 21st century has seen a surge of new competition from Macau and Singapore. Many of the top mega hotel-casinos cost billions to construct and are designed to dazzle the eye, from MGM’s undulating three-tiered facade to Wynn’s mirrored crescent of desert orange.

The casinos are staffed by professional employees and are designed to be as secure as possible. However, due to the large amounts of money handled within a casino, both patrons and staff may be tempted to cheat or steal, either in collusion with other players or on their own. To counter this, the most common security measure is cameras placed throughout the casino.

Many of these cameras are angled so that surveillance personnel can see the game play, and in some cases, the players. A casino may also employ rules of conduct and behavior to help deter cheating, including requiring players to keep their cards visible at all times. In some cases, a casino will employ a pit boss to monitor the floor.