What is a Casino?

A casino is a place where people gamble by playing games of chance, or with some element of skill. Some of these games have a definite mathematical expectation of winning or losing, which is known as the house edge. The casinos earn money by charging a commission for gambling, or “raking,” and also by selling items to the players (comps). The casino industry has become a global business, and it is estimated that worldwide revenues exceed $60 billion.

Casinos have many security measures in place to protect their patrons and staff. The most important are the use of cameras to monitor activity and prevent theft, either in collusion between patrons or by staff members acting independently. In addition to surveillance, casinos use technology to supervise the actual games themselves. For example, in roulette, the betting chips have a built-in microcircuit that interacts with electronic systems in the tables to enable casinos to oversee the exact amounts wagered minute by minute and to warn them quickly of any deviation from their expected results; and in games such as poker, where players play against each other, the cards are electronically monitored for statistical anomalies.

Casinos have become a major source of entertainment in the world, and some of them are famous for their architecture, entertainment options, and other features. The Bellagio, for instance, is known for its dancing fountains, which have been featured in a number of films including “The Hangover” and “Ocean’s 11.” Other popular casinos include Caesars Palace, the Wynn Las Vegas, and the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut.