A casino is a facility where people can gamble with cash or other items of value. Most casinos offer games of chance, but some also have sports betting and video poker. Some casinos are operated by major hotel chains, and others are owned by individuals or groups. In the United States, casino gambling first became popular in Nevada, but it has since spread to other places, most notably Atlantic City and New Jersey. Most American casinos are located on Indian reservations, which are exempt from state anti-gambling laws.

Casinos have a variety of security measures in place to protect their patrons and property. These measures include a physical security force and a specialized surveillance department. The security force patrols the casino and responds to reports of suspicious or definite criminal activity. The specialized surveillance department operates the casino’s closed circuit television system, often referred to as the “eye in the sky”.

In addition to the obvious security measures, casinos employ several methods of preventing cheating and theft by both staff and patrons. Casino employees are trained to watch for blatant attempts to cheat or steal, such as palming cards or marking dice. The routines and patterns of casino games also make it easy for security personnel to spot suspicious behavior.

Most games of chance have mathematically determined odds that give the house a constant long-term advantage. However, some casino games have an element of skill, which allows players to eliminate the house’s advantage. These games are referred to as beatable games and include blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and video poker.