A casino is a place where gambling is permitted and the games are controlled by law. These establishments are often combined with restaurants, hotels and retail shops. In the United States, casinos are most commonly found in Nevada and New Jersey, though there are many other states that host a casino.
Casinos can be a source of great fun and excitement, but they also come with a risk. The presence of large amounts of currency can encourage both patrons and employees to cheat, steal or scam their way into a jackpot instead of waiting for it to be awarded through random chance. This is why casinos spend a lot of time, effort and money on security. Most casinos have surveillance cameras placed throughout the facility to monitor activities. Security personnel watch over the table games with a wider view, looking for things like betting patterns that might indicate cheating or a lack of skill.
Something about casinos seems to attract mobsters, who love the money they can make in the gaming rooms. Mobsters often take sole or partial ownership of a casino and are known for their intense personal attention to game play, attempting to skew the outcome of particular games. Despite this, legitimate businessmen with deep pockets have found casinos to be tremendous cash cows, and they are willing to overlook the mob’s seamy image to reap the rewards.
