A casino is a gambling establishment that houses a variety of games of chance, including slots, roulette, blackjack, poker, craps and other games. It has many other luxuries, too, like restaurants, free drinks, and stage shows.
It also gives away comps to good players, depending on how much they spend at the casino. These can include free hotel rooms, dinners, tickets to shows and even airline tickets if they are big enough spenders.
Because of the large amount of money that is handled within a casino, there are many security measures. These start on the casino floor, where casino employees keep their eyes on patrons to ensure that no one is cheating or stealing. Dealers watch out for blatant palming and marking, while pit bosses and table managers look out for betting patterns that may indicate cheating or collusion between players.
Video cameras also watch over the games themselves, with chips that have built-in microcircuitry allowing casinos to monitor exact amounts wagered minute by minute and warn them quickly of any anomalies. Roulette wheels are regularly electronically monitored for any statistical deviations, and some games have been completely automated to eliminate the possibility of cheating.
A 1995 film, Casino, directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro and Sharon Stone, dramatizes the mob-run Tangiers casino in Las Vegas. The film is loosely based on the true story of Frank Rosenthal, who ran the Stardust, Fremont and Marina casinos in Las Vegas for the Chicago Outfit until being arrested in 1981.