A Casino is a gambling establishment where patrons place wagers in exchange for winnings. Gambling has been a popular activity for centuries and continues to be a central part of many cultures.
In the modern sense of a casino, gaming machines are the main focus. These are devices that accept paper tickets or credit cards and generate random combinations of numbers which correspond to prizes. A casino may also offer table games, such as blackjack and craps. These are typically conducted by employees known as croupiers or dealers. Casinos may also include a number of traditional Far Eastern games, such as sic bo (which spread to several European and American casinos during the 1990s), fan-tan and pai gow.
Because large amounts of money are handled within casinos, both patrons and staff are susceptible to cheating and stealing. As a result, casinos have strict security measures. For example, some casinos use special betting chips with built-in microcircuitry that monitor the amount wagered minute by minute; roulette wheels are electronically monitored regularly to discover any statistical deviations from their expected results; and cameras constantly watch for signs of unusual activity.
Casinos are often built near or combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops and cruise ships. Some are standalone facilities, while others are built inside or on the grounds of other major entertainment complexes, such as amusement parks, ski resorts and even football stadiums. In the United States casinos are most frequently located in Atlantic City and Las Vegas, although there are also several on Native American reservations and other locations outside of the continental US.