A casino is a facility that houses gambling activities. These include card games, table games and slot machines. In addition to these, casinos often have restaurants and stage shows. Successful casinos bring in billions of dollars each year for their owners, investors and state and local governments.
Casinos can be found in countries worldwide. Most of them are operated by governmental organizations or on Native American reservations, which avoid the strict antigambling laws of many states. In the United States, casinos are most commonly found in Nevada and Atlantic City.
While casino gambling has a long history, the modern casino is an enormously complex enterprise. Its layout, security, and supervision are all highly developed. Some casinos also have advanced technology to prevent cheating and theft. For instance, some table games use electronic chips with built-in microcircuitry that allow the casino to monitor the amount of money wagered minute by minute and warn players if the amounts bet are outside normal ranges. Other sophisticated technologies include catwalks in the ceiling that allow surveillance personnel to look down, through one-way glass, on activities at specific tables or slot machines.
The elegant spa town of Baden-Baden first lured European royalty and aristocracy 150 years ago, but its casino has more recently drawn visitors from the United States and around the world. Today, casinos in cities and resorts throughout the world are designed to create an atmosphere of luxury, with elaborate decor and carefully arranged lighting.