A casino is a gambling establishment that offers gamblers the opportunity to place wagers on games of chance and skill. These games may be conducted in a large building called a resort or in smaller card rooms. Some casinos also offer a wide variety of entertainment and services to attract customers, such as restaurants, spas, and hotels. Casinos generate billions of dollars each year for the companies, investors, and Native American tribes that own them. In addition, state and local governments reap revenues from taxes and fees collected from casino patrons.
Casino games generally have a fixed mathematical expectation of winning, which is often referred to as the house edge. These odds are built into the game rules and determine how much the house will win in the long run, regardless of whether a particular individual wins or loses any given bet. To counteract this effect, casino employees watch over patrons to ensure that the games are being played as they should be. Those watching the tables may spot blatant cheats such as palming or marking cards or switching dice. Elaborate surveillance systems provide an eye-in-the-sky view of the entire floor, allowing security personnel to quickly shift their attention from one table or window to another.
Something about casinos seems to encourage people to try to cheat, steal or scam their way into a big jackpot. That’s why casinos spend a lot of time, money and effort on security.