A casino is a building where people gamble and play games of chance. It is also a place where people socialize with friends and drink alcohol. A casino is a popular tourist attraction and an important source of revenue for its host city or country. Many casinos have strict rules on behavior and dress. Some have security cameras located throughout the property.

A casino’s security measures begin with its staff, which is trained to spot cheating or stealing. Dealers are heavily focused on their game, and can easily see blatant attempts to alter the result of a hand or switch cards or dice. Table managers and pit bosses have a wider view of the tables and can watch for patterns in betting.

Elaborate surveillance systems give casinos a high-tech eye-in-the-sky, with cameras watching every table, window, and doorway. These cameras can be controlled from a room filled with banks of security monitors by security personnel who can adjust the camera focus to zero in on certain suspicious patrons. Casinos can also use technology to supervising the games themselves. For example, a special chip with built-in microcircuitry allows casinos to track the exact amount of money wagered on each game minute by minute and warn them of statistical deviations.

Comps are free goods or services offered by the casino to players who spend a lot of time and money playing their favorite games. They can include everything from free hotel rooms to meals, shows, and even limo service and airline tickets.