A casino is an establishment offering a wide range of gambling activities. These facilities are often combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and other tourist attractions. They also offer various forms of entertainment, such as live music and shows. In some countries, casinos are licensed and regulated by government authorities.
Casinos earn their income largely from patrons who play slot machines and (from the 1980s) video poker games. Using chips with microcircuitry, these machines monitor each bet minute-by-minute and can detect any statistical deviation from their expected values. Despite the high house edge, these games attract large bettors and can generate substantial revenue for a casino.
Other popular games at American casinos include roulette, craps and blackjack. In roulette, casinos typically reduce the house edge to less than one percent in order to attract big bettors. Craps tables are often staffed with pit bosses and table managers, who oversee the game for cheating or stealing and may even spot unusual betting patterns that could signal the existence of an advantage player.
Unlike many other types of establishments, casinos depend on a combination of technologies and rules to enforce their security. Video cameras are used to observe the games, and dealers must keep their cards visible at all times. In addition, casinos employ staff members to monitor the action and to watch for any blatant violations such as palming or marking cards. Casinos also rely on electronic technology for their internal controls, such as “chip tracking,” which allows casinos to monitor the exact amount of money wagered at a particular machine and warn employees of any suspicious activity.