A casino is a place where people can wager money on games of chance. The games may be table games like blackjack and roulette or electronic machines such as slot machines. Casinos typically offer free drinks, stage shows and dramatic scenery to attract patrons.

Gambling is big business around the world and casinos are no exception. They are a common sight in Europe and the United States. The Bellagio in Las Vegas, for example, is famous worldwide. But there are also smaller casinos in many other cities and countries. There are even mobile casinos for those who prefer to gamble on the go.

In the early days of American casinos gambling was often tied to organized crime, but federal crackdowns on mob activity and the threat of losing a gaming license at the slightest hint of Mafia involvement forced the mob to leave the businesses behind. Real estate investors and hotel chains, with deep pockets, bought out the mobsters and began running casinos without mob interference. Today, casinos are mostly run by investment banks with the help of professional managers and a large number of security staff.

Modern casinos are usually divided into two departments: a physical security force and a specialized surveillance department. The security force patrols the casino and responds to calls for assistance or suspicious or definite criminal activity. The specialized surveillance department operates the closed circuit television system (CCTV) that is known in the industry as the “eye in the sky.” This surveillance technology allows security personnel to watch the entire floor of the casino from a separate room and to zoom in on suspicious patrons and monitor slot machine payouts.

Some casinos also employ mathematicians and computer programmers to analyze the statistical deviations of their slot machines and other games to detect patterns that indicate cheating or other violations of house rules. These people are called gaming mathematicians and gaming analysts.

Casinos are also required to disclose the house edge of their games, which is based on probabilities and other factors that make a game profitable for the casino. This information is provided in the games’ rules, and it is important for players to understand it so they can make informed decisions.