Casino is a modern indoor amusement park for adults where the majority of the entertainment (and profits for the owners) comes from gambling. Slot machines, roulette, baccarat and other games of chance provide the billions of dollars in profits that casinos rake in every year. Casinos feature a wide range of entertainment and attractions, including musical shows, lighted fountains, shopping centers and elaborate themes.
Casinos are also known for their high level of customer service, and offer complimentary items to gamblers (known as comps). They often have a separate room for high rollers, who can spend tens of thousands of dollars per visit and receive VIP treatment.
In addition to the obvious security measures, many casinos have cameras throughout the facility. These cameras can be adjusted to focus on suspicious patrons by security personnel in a control room filled with banks of monitors. Security at a casino also includes a staff of dealers and table managers who watch patrons to spot cheating (such as palming, marking or switching dice) or other suspicious activity.
The legal age to gamble varies by state, but most casinos require players to be at least 21 years old. While many casinos are located in Las Vegas, they can be found in many cities and towns across the United States. They are also open in riverboats, on American Indian reservations and at racetracks, where they are referred to as racinos. In the late twentieth century, casinos became increasingly popular in Europe.