A casino is a gambling establishment with table games, slot machines and other gaming options. It also may include restaurants, bars and live entertainment. Some casinos are standalone facilities, while others are part of hotels or resorts. In some countries, casinos are licensed and regulated by the state government.
Something about gambling (perhaps the huge amounts of money handled within) seems to encourage both patrons and staff to cheat or steal, whether in collusion with each other or independently. To counter this, casinos employ a variety of security measures. In addition to the usual cameras located throughout the facility, elaborate systems like “chip tracking” allow casinos to monitor betting chips minute-by-minute, and roulette wheels are electronically monitored regularly to discover any statistical deviations from their expected outcomes.
Despite the emphasis on chance, most casino games have mathematically determined odds that ensure that the house always has an advantage over the players. To offset this, the house takes a percentage of all bets, known as the rake. In games such as poker where players compete against each other, the house also takes a cut of the pot, known as the vig or edge.
To make their gambling offerings more attractive, casinos offer a variety of incentives to their customers. These rewards are often based on the amount of money that a customer bets or the number of hours spent at a particular game. These rewards can include free hotel rooms, meals, show tickets and limo service.