A casino is a gambling establishment that offers a variety of games of chance and skill. It also features entertainment shows and other forms of live amusement. Many casinos are located in large resort cities such as Las Vegas and Atlantic City, while others operate on boats or barges on waterways and at racetracks, where they are known as racinos. The casino industry generates billions of dollars in revenue each year for the corporations, investors, and Native American tribes that own and operate them. In addition, many states and local jurisdictions regulate and audit casinos to ensure that they follow strict responsible gambling guidelines.

Because of the large amounts of money that are handled within a casino, cheating and theft are common at casinos. Both patrons and staff members may try to steal from each other or from the casino itself, either in collusion or independently. This is why casinos have strict security measures in place, including cameras throughout the facility.

In addition to a comprehensive surveillance system, modern casinos rely heavily on technology to monitor the games themselves. For example, betting chips have built-in microcircuitry that interacts with the electronic systems at the table to enable the casino to monitor exactly how much is wagered minute by minute and quickly discover any statistical deviation from expected results. Roulette wheels are regularly monitored electronically as well, with the odds of winning or losing a spin calculated automatically and displayed on a large screen for all to see.