A casino, also known as a gambling house or a gaming room, is an establishment where people can gamble by playing games of chance. It is a form of legalized gambling and is operated by state-licensed operators. Casinos are usually associated with high-end hotels, but they can be found in a wide variety of locations, including entertainment centers and shopping malls.
Most casinos offer a variety of gambling games, from blackjack to video poker to craps. Some have a degree of skill involved, while others are pure chance. Most of these games have a mathematically determined advantage for the casino, which is called the house edge. This advantage is based on the fact that the house takes a commission on every bet placed, or, in games such as poker where players compete against one another, the house collects a percentage of each player’s winnings.
Casinos are often protected by specialized security departments that patrol the premises and respond to calls for assistance or reports of suspicious activity. They may use closed circuit television (CCTV) to monitor the property and staff, or engage private security firms to provide escorts and bodyguards.
Some of the world’s most famous casinos are featured in Hollywood movies like Ocean’s 11. Other landmarks include Caesars Palace, the Bellagio, and Paris’ Casino de la Porte des Lilas, which opened in 1863. In modern times, technology has increased the capacity and efficiency of casino surveillance. For example, betting chips have built-in microcircuitry that allows them to be tracked minute by minute, and roulette wheels are electronically monitored for anomalies.