A Casino is a building where various types of gambling take place. The modern casino is much like an indoor amusement park for adults, with the vast majority of its entertainment (and profits) coming from games of chance. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps, keno and other games of chance provide the billions in profits that casinos are known for each year. Musical shows, lighted fountains and elaborate hotels help draw in the crowds, but casinos would not exist without games of chance.

The most popular casino game is the slot machine. Players simply put in money, pull a handle or push a button and wait to see the result — varying bands of colored shapes roll on reels (either physical or video representations) and if the right pattern emerges, the player wins a predetermined amount of money. The odds of winning are determined by a mathematical formula that includes the house edge, which is built into each game.

Security is a big part of any casino operation. Employees on the casino floor keep their eyes on each table and patron to make sure everything is going as it should. Dealers are trained to spot blatant cheating such as palming or marking cards and dice. Casinos also have cameras that are monitored from a room filled with banks of security monitors, and can be adjusted to focus on suspicious patrons by casino employees.

While the largest casinos are located in Las Vegas, there are many more across America. You can zoom in on my map to find the best legal land-based casinos near you, or click on my list of states to see a full listing of casinos by state.