A casino is a gambling establishment that offers various forms of chance-based games. These include card games, table games and random number generator-based games. Patrons place bets with cash or other things of value and the casino gives them prizes based on the odds of winning each game. Casinos typically accept bets within an established limit, so that a patron cannot win more than the casino can afford to pay out. In this way, a casino can ensure that it will generate an overall profit from the players. Casinos can also offer extravagant inducements to big bettors, such as free spectacular entertainment, luxury living quarters, reduced-fare transportation and so on.
Casinos can be found worldwide but are most heavily concentrated in the United States and in cities such as Las Vegas, Nevada; Atlantic City, New Jersey; and Chicago, Illinois. The casinos are often built close to or combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, and other tourist attractions.
Because of the large amounts of money that are handled within a casino, both patrons and staff may be tempted to cheat or steal, either in collusion or independently. For this reason, many casinos have security measures in place to prevent these activities. Most casinos use a variety of cameras and other technological devices to monitor activity. In addition, many casinos employ croupiers and dealers who are trained to detect any dishonest or illegal activity. Moreover, the casinos have to meet certain standards for safety and cleanliness.