What Is a Casino?

A casino (also known as a gambling house or a gaming hall) is an establishment that offers certain types of gambling activities. It may also offer services such as snack bars, restaurants, and hotel accommodations. Those involved in the operation of casinos are known as casino operators. A casino is a popular tourist attraction and can be found in many cities around the world.

A variety of games are offered in casinos, but the most popular are blackjack, craps, and slots. All of these games have a house advantage that is mathematically determined. This is sometimes referred to as the expected value of a game, or simply the house edge. The house advantage is smaller for some games than for others; for example, the house edge of roulette is less than one percent compared to that of blackjack. The casino makes its profit by taking a percentage of the money bet or charging an hourly fee for playing.

The first casinos were operated by the mob in Las Vegas, which grew into a major resort city during the mid-20th century after Nevada legalized casino gambling. Many modern casinos have integrated entertainment venues and retail shopping into their operations. In addition, many have incorporated the latest technology into their facilities. For instance, some have catwalks that allow surveillance personnel to look down on the activities in the tables and slot machines through one-way glass. Some even have electronic systems that monitor the betting chips minute-by-minute and detect any anomalies.