A casino is an establishment for certain types of gambling. It can be combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and other tourist attractions. In the United States, there are several state-regulated casinos. The largest are located in Nevada, with over 340 casinos, and Atlantic City in New Jersey. Casinos are most famous for their gambling, but they also offer other entertainment, such as concerts, shows, and sports events.
A large part of the fun of gambling is the social aspect: the gamblers are typically surrounded by other people as they play, and often shout encouragement or taunt their opponents. In addition, alcoholic drinks are easily available and are frequently served by waiters circulating throughout the casino. Casinos are designed to be pleasing to the senses, with loud music and bright lights. They use more than 15,000 miles of neon tubing to attract the attention of passers-by.
Because of the high amounts of money handled within a casino, it is not surprising that it is vulnerable to theft and fraud. Various security measures are therefore used, with the most basic being surveillance cameras located throughout the casino. Many casinos also employ pit bosses and table managers who oversee the games themselves, watching for blatant cheating (palming, marking, or switching of cards or dice) or unusual betting patterns. Casinos are also equipped with electronic devices that allow them to monitor the precise amount of money being wagered minute-by-minute and to quickly discover any deviation from expected results.