New York City Casinos

Whether you’re rolling the dice on the roulette wheel, putting your poker face on at the table or laying it all down on a craps table, there are few places better to satisfy that gambling itch than a casino. And while New York City’s laws make it illegal to operate a casino in the city proper, there are plenty of Las Vegas-style casinos within an easy drive of NYC.

Most casinos offer a wide variety of games. They may offer slot machines, video poker and keno as well as blackjack, craps, baccarat, roulette, and other table games like Caribbean stud. They also usually offer Far Eastern games such as sic bo, fan-tan and pai gow.

Casinos rely on their reputation for fun, excitement and high stakes to draw in gamblers and keep them coming back. They strive to create an environment that’s loud, bright and crowded to maximize the energy level and encourage players to interact with one another. They often offer free drinks and food, luxury suites, clubs, pools, concerts and other events to keep their patrons entertained and spending money.

Because large amounts of cash are handled in a casino, both patrons and staff can be tempted to cheat or steal, either in collusion or independently. To minimize the risks, most casinos employ a number of security measures. They typically have a physical security force and a specialized surveillance department that operates closed circuit television (CCTV). Those cameras are the eyes in the sky that help to deter theft, fraud and other crime, and they help to provide rapid response to any incidents that do occur.