A casino is a gambling establishment that offers various types of gambling. Some casinos also offer live entertainment and dining options. They are commonly located near hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, and cruise ships. In the United States, there are over 1,000 casinos. Some of the best known are in Las Vegas and Atlantic City.
There are three general categories of casino games: gaming machines, table games, and random number games. Gaming machines, such as slot machines, allow players to compete against the machine rather than each other. Table games, such as blackjack and craps, require the involvement of casino employees, called croupiers or dealers. Random number games, such as roulette and baccarat, use a random number generator to determine the outcome of a spin or a hand.
The majority of casinos offer a variety of poker variants, and many offer tournament play. In the United States, the most popular games are baccarat (known as chemin de fer in Europe), pai gow poker, Caribbean stud poker, and black jack. Other table games include sic bo, fan-tan, and tai chi b
Given the large amounts of money handled within a casino, both patrons and staff may be tempted to cheat or steal, either in collusion or independently. For this reason, most casinos have security measures in place to prevent such behavior. These usually include a physical security force and a specialized surveillance department.