A casino is a building where gambling, the games of chance and other forms of recreation are played. It’s a place where people meet and party, where drinks are served and the music is loud. Some casinos also serve meals. People of all ages visit casinos. Young gamblers often choose slot machines while older patrons prefer table games like blackjack and poker.

A lot of money changes hands in a casino, so security is a major concern. Elaborate surveillance systems give a high-tech eye-in-the-sky, watching every table, window and doorway. Security workers in a separate room full of banks of security monitors can adjust the cameras to focus on specific suspicious patrons. Some casinos have catwalks above the casino floor that allow security personnel to look directly down on table games and slot machines with one-way glass.

There’s something about gambling (probably the fact that it involves large amounts of money) that encourages cheating and theft. To combat this, many casinos spend a huge amount of time, effort and money on security.

Despite their seamy image, casinos are a popular attraction for millions of Americans. People with all kinds of incomes visit casinos for fun, excitement and a chance to win big.

Gambling has been a part of human civilization for millennia, with dice showing up in 2300 BC and playing cards arriving in the 1400s. Historically, something about gambling (perhaps the fact that it involves large amounts of money) encouraged some people to cheat and steal their way into a jackpot, instead of trying to win by random chance. The mob was once a big player in the gaming business, running entire casinos in Reno and Las Vegas. But real estate investors and hotel chains with deep pockets bought out the gangsters and began running their own casinos, free of mob interference.