A casino is a building where people can gamble and play games of chance. Some casinos are famous for their glitz and glamour; others for their seediness and ugliness. Many states have legal land-based casinos, but Nevada and Atlantic City are particularly famous for their huge casinos.
Something about gambling seems to encourage cheating and stealing. For this reason, most casinos spend a lot of time and money on security. They also try to keep the patrons happy by offering perks such as free drinks and shows.
Many casinos have elaborate security systems, including closed circuit television (CCTV) and a high-tech “eye in the sky.” Security personnel patrol the casino and respond to calls for assistance or suspicious activity. They are assisted by specialized surveillance departments, which watch every table or machine from a control room above. These departments can spot statistical deviations from normal behavior like a hand of cards in the air or a player making a mistake at poker.
Many casinos offer a variety of gambling products, including slot machines and table games such as blackjack, poker and craps. In the United States, a person must be 21 years old to gamble in a casino. However, the legal gambling age varies by state and gambling product. In addition to requiring that players be 21, some states have laws limiting the types of games available and the maximum amounts players can wager on each game. Moreover, some states regulate the operation of Native American casinos.