A casino, or gaming hall, is a place where gambling takes place. It can be located in massive resorts such as the Monte-Carlo Casino or small card rooms. It can also be found in cruise ships, at racetracks converted into racinos, and even in bars and restaurants. Successful casinos bring in billions of dollars each year for the companies, investors, and Native American tribes that operate them. They also generate tax revenues for state and local governments.

To attract customers, casinos employ a variety of tricks. They use bright lights, bells, and whistles to appeal to the sense of sound. They arrange slot machines and tables in a maze-like fashion so that wandering patrons are continually enticed by more gambling options. The noises made by slots and other games are electronically tuned to the musical key of C to be pleasing to human ears.

Casinos rely on sophisticated technology to keep track of their patrons and prevent crime. In addition to the traditional security forces that patrol the floor, a specialized surveillance department operates a network of closed circuit television cameras known as the “eye in the sky.” These systems allow security personnel to monitor individual table and game activity minute by minute. Some casinos also use chip tracking, where betting chips with built-in microcircuitry interact with electronic systems to enable the casino to oversee the exact amounts wagered minute by minute and warn them of any statistical deviations from expected results.