A casino is a facility where people can gamble using cash or credit cards. The games offered in casinos include slot machines, table games, and random number games. Some casinos also offer sports betting and horse racing. The term casino may also refer to a building or room where these activities take place.
Casinos use security measures to prevent cheating or stealing by both patrons and staff. These measures include closed circuit television and other monitoring systems, and the presence of a physical security force. The casinos also enforce rules of conduct and behavior to prevent these problems. These measures have been effective in reducing crime in casinos.
The house edge in a casino game is the mathematically determined advantage that the house has over the players. This advantage is most clearly seen in card games like blackjack and poker, where the house profits by taking a commission on each hand or bet placed, known as the rake. It is less visible in games with an element of skill, such as baccarat and trente et quarante (a variation of chemin de fer).
In addition to the usual casino security measures, modern casinos employ a variety of technological methods to monitor their customers and the games themselves. For example, in roulette wheels, electronic systems track the exact amount of money wagered minute by minute and alert management to any statistical deviation from expected results. In the case of slot machines, built-in microcircuitry connects to an external system that records and verifies bets made.