A casino is a gambling establishment that offers games of chance and, in some cases, skill. These games can be played on land in massive resorts and in small card rooms, as well as on water-based boats known as racinos. Some states have even legalized casino-like facilities on Indian reservations, which are not subject to state antigambling laws.

Typically, casinos have a variety of table games as well as slots and video poker machines. Table games like blackjack and poker draw large crowds, but slot machines are the economic mainstay of many American casinos. In fact, they provide most of the revenue in Las Vegas, where casinos compete with each other for customers by offering perks such as free show tickets and buffets to high rollers.

Casinos often use technology to enhance security and monitor games. For example, in a technique called chip tracking, betting chips are equipped with microcircuitry that allows them to be tracked minute by minute so that casinos can quickly discover any deviation from expected results. Video cameras are also widely used for general security and surveillance. Many casinos have a specialized department that oversees the operation of the gambling floor’s closed circuit television system.