A Casino is a public place where various games of chance can be played and where gambling is the primary activity. Though some casinos add elaborate hotels, shopping centers, fountains and stage shows to help draw in patrons, they would not exist without the millions of dollars of profits raked in each year by their gaming machines. Casinos offer many types of games, including slot machines, blackjack, baccarat, craps and roulette.
The term casino is derived from the Italian word for “a small house.” These houses were once common throughout Europe, where people would gather to gamble and socialize, but their numbers diminished after laws were passed that prohibited large public gaming houses.
Modern casinos are more like an indoor amusement park for adults, with the majority of their income coming from gambling. They are designed to appeal to the senses with dazzling lighting, musical shows and glitzy architecture. A few casinos even boast a waterfall or lake, to give patrons something to look at while they spin the reels or try their luck at winning the big jackpot.
Because of the enormous sums of money handled within a casino, both patrons and employees may be tempted to cheat or steal, either in collusion with each other or independently. Therefore, casinos usually have extensive security measures in place. They are normally staffed by both physical security forces and a specialized department that operates closed circuit television. This system is augmented by a network of security cameras located throughout the property.