A casino is a facility where people can gamble by playing games of chance. It may be an establishment with a full range of gambling activities, or it may specialize in certain types of games, such as poker or blackjack. Casinos also serve food and drink, and some have entertainment venues. Casinos are most common in the United States, but they can also be found in some other countries.
Most casinos earn money by charging a commission, or ‘rake’, to players in games such as poker. They also profit from the built-in statistical advantage of their games, which is known as the house edge. This mathematical expectation of winning gives the casino a net profit over time, even when the average bet is small. In addition, the casinos’ use of bright colors and gaudy decoration adds to their ambience, which attracts customers.
Casinos employ a variety of security measures. Most have cameras throughout the facility and staff who monitor patrons to detect suspicious behavior. Many tables have betting chips with microcircuitry that allows the house to monitor exactly how much is wagered minute-by-minute and warn players of any anomalies. Roulette wheels are electronically monitored regularly to discover any deviation from their expected results.
Because large amounts of money are handled within a casino, employees and patrons are sometimes tempted to cheat or steal, in collusion or independently. Because of this, casinos spend a lot of time and money on security.