A casino is a gambling establishment where people can risk money on various games of chance. The casino industry is global with operations in places such as Macau and Singapore.

A modern casino offers a wide range of gambling activities, including poker rooms, table games and slot machines. It also offers luxury accommodations, fine dining and live entertainment. Some casinos are famous for their dancing fountains and others for the movies they have inspired (such as Ocean’s 11).

In the 21st century, many casinos are focusing their investments on high rollers, who gamble in special rooms that can cost tens of thousands of dollars to rent. These people are known as “big spenders” and are offered comps, or free goods and services, based on their play. These can include free hotel rooms, show tickets and even airline flights.

The large amounts of money handled by casino employees and patrons may make them tempted to cheat or steal, either in collusion or independently. Because of this, most casinos have extensive security measures. These may include video cameras mounted throughout the facility and an “eye in the sky” system that allows security workers to watch all the tables, windows and doors at once.

In the past, a casino was often run by a gangster or a mob, which was why it was nicknamed a “mob joint.” However, real estate investors and hotel chains began buying up casinos, and federal crackdowns on the Mafia have made it more difficult for organized crime groups to operate them.