A casino is a facility for certain types of gambling. It can be found at hotels, resorts, some cruise ships and standalone structures. In the United States, casinos are licensed and regulated by state law. Some casinos are owned by public entities, while others are operated by private enterprises. Some states require that gaming be monitored, and most have laws prohibiting the promotion of gambling. A few states have prohibited sports betting altogether.
A casino can feature any number of games, but it is most famous for poker, blackjack and roulette. Other popular games include baccarat, craps and trente et quarante (French casino card game). Many casinos use technology to monitor and control gambling activities. For example, chip tracking uses computer systems to record the exact amounts placed at a table minute by minute; and roulette wheels are electronically monitored regularly to detect deviations from normal statistical patterns.
The MGM Grand, a storied Las Vegas gambling den that attracts hardened dollar spinners and curious newbies alike, is renowned for its high-end poker room, where bets top out at $4,000/$8,000 with pots of $1 million or more. This megahotel also has the typical array of game tables and slot machines, plus a lively area for sports betting with 60 plasma televisions. While the glitz and glamor of many Vegas hotel-casinos can quickly merge into a blur, some stand out for their unique personalities.