A casino is a building or room where gambling and games of chance are played. Its customers gamble by playing a variety of games of chance, or skill-based games such as poker and video slots. Some casinos are owned by governments, while others are independent companies. They are usually located in resort towns and have elaborate décor and facilities. Casinos are a major source of revenue for many countries.
In most games of chance, the house has a built-in advantage over the patrons. This advantage is known as the house edge, and it ensures that the casino will eventually win a certain percentage of all bets placed. Because of this, it is almost impossible for a casino to lose money on its games, even for one day. To compensate for this mathematical expectation, casinos offer patrons various inducements to play. These include free spectacular entertainment, reduced-fare transportation and hotel rooms, free drinks and cigarettes while gambling, and even comped meals.
Because large amounts of currency are handled within casinos, they have security measures to prevent cheating and stealing. These include security cameras, but also rules of conduct and behavior. For example, casino patrons are required to keep their hands visible at all times when playing cards, and the chips used in a game must be visible to surveillance at all times. In addition, casino managers and pit bosses have a broader view of table games to spot any suspicious betting patterns or behavior.