A casino, also known as a gambling house or a gaming hall, is an establishment for certain types of gambling. The most famous casinos are located in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Atlantic City, New Jersey, but there are many more, including those on Native American reservations. Some of these feature more than just the standard games like blackjack and roulette, but also restaurants, bars, entertainment venues and other amenities.
Table games are a major part of casino culture and involve players betting against each other or the dealer. The most popular are poker, but a wide variety of games exist, each with its own strategic depth and combination of psychology, skill and luck. Other popular table games include craps and roulette.
Casinos can be very lucrative for businesses, but the industry is also subject to a great deal of risk. While the large amounts of money handled by casinos can lead to temptations for patrons and staff alike, most casinos have measures in place to prevent cheating or theft, both from outsiders and within the establishment itself. One of the most common precautions is that casinos employ security cameras throughout the premises to monitor activity, and some even have catwalks in the ceiling above the casino floor, so surveillance personnel can see activities at the tables through one-way glass. In addition, a number of casinos use special security officers, called bodyguards, to protect VIPs and other high-profile guests. These are often hired from law enforcement agencies and armed forces, although there are some who are independent contractors.