A casino is a gambling establishment where patrons gamble on games of chance, often with an element of skill. Craps, roulette, baccarat, blackjack and slot machines generate the billions in profits that make casinos one of the biggest industries in the world. But the casinos we know and love are more than just gambling rooms. They are places where music and lights, smells and sounds engulf the senses to create an experience that’s fun and exciting, even if you’re not winning.

The modern casino was born in Nevada in 1931, but it took decades for the industry to spread outside of the state. When the mob began to lose control of the business and federal crackdowns allowed them to move on, major real estate investors and hotel chains saw the opportunity to create a brand new type of entertainment that would draw tourists from across the country and around the world.

Gambling is a dangerous and addictive business, so casinos employ an extensive system of security to keep their customers safe. They use cameras and other surveillance systems to monitor every inch of the casino, and staff members constantly adjust the equipment to focus on suspicious patrons. The routines and patterns of casino games also help to deter crime; for example, the way players at a poker table shuffle and deal cards and react to their opponents follows certain conventions that can be recognized by security personnel. But no amount of security measures can completely prevent cheating and stealing, especially when large amounts of money are involved.