A casino is a public place where games of chance are played and where gambling is the primary activity. Some casinos add other luxuries such as restaurants and free drinks to attract gamblers, but any place that houses these activities and encourages players to wager money can be considered a casino.
Due to the large amount of money handled within a casino, both patrons and staff may be tempted to cheat or steal in collusion or independently; this is why most casinos spend a great deal of time and effort on security. The simplest measure is to have security cameras located throughout the casino, but there are also more subtle measures. For example, the way dealers handle cards and the expected reactions of other players all follow certain patterns that are easy for security people to spot.
Local casinos can also provide significant amounts of revenue for a community, bringing in money that could be used to reduce property tax rates, increase wages in the area, or fund other projects. This is especially true in communities where unemployment is high and other sources of income are scarce. Several studies have shown that communities with casinos see greater economic growth, even after controlling for a number of other factors. It is thought that this is due to the increased employment opportunities created by casinos, as well as a trickle-down effect whereby businesses in other industries benefit from casino patrons spending money.