A casino is a place where gambling activities are carried out. It may add a number of other luxuries to help patrons enjoy their time there, such as fine dining, stage shows and dramatic scenery but it is essentially a facility designed to house gambling activities.
A large amount of money is handled within a casino, and both patrons and staff may be tempted to cheat or steal (either in collusion or independently). As such, casinos invest a lot of time, effort and money into security measures. Various electronic devices such as cameras are often used to monitor activities in and around casinos, and most modern casinos also employ staff to monitor gaming tables and machines.
In addition, casinos hire mathematicians to calculate the mathematical expected returns of games (in terms of the total amount of money won versus the amount lost). This information is important because it allows the casino to make decisions about how much money to set aside in the bank and to estimate its long-term profitability.
In the United States, casinos are primarily found in Nevada and New Jersey. However, a growing number of American Indian reservations now feature casinos, which are not subject to state antigambling laws. Many of these casinos have been very successful, and other states have modified their laws to allow them as well. The casino industry is a major source of revenue for many states. In particular, casinos in Las Vegas generate a significant amount of tourism for the city.