A casino is a public place where a wide range of games of chance are offered and gambling is the primary activity. Casinos offer free food and drinks to keep gamblers on their premises, and the atmosphere is designed around noise, light and excitement. Casinos use bright, sometimes gaudy floor and wall coverings to stimulate gamblers’ sense of sight; they also use sound to distract players from the monotony of game play by using bells, whistles and clangs of dropping coins. Casinos may also offer a variety of stage shows and dramatic scenery to add to the entertainment value of a visit.

Gambling is not without its problems, however, and casinos employ numerous security measures to prevent cheating and stealing. Security personnel, both physical and specialized, are employed to patrol the casino, monitor video cameras throughout the facility and inspect equipment on a regular basis. Some casinos also use special chips with built-in microcircuitry to allow them to track bets minute by minute, and to warn players immediately if the odds of winning or losing change significantly.

Something about the presence of large sums of money seems to encourage people to try to cheat or steal, either in collusion with other patrons or independently. As a result, casinos spend a substantial amount of time, effort and money on security. Most modern casinos have a combination of both physical and specialized security departments that work closely together to protect the patrons and property.