A casino is a gambling establishment where various games of chance are offered. It may also offer other forms of entertainment, such as stage shows and dramatic scenery. In addition, casinos often have restaurants, free drinks and other amenities to lure gamblers. Gambling is usually done with chips or other objects, but in some cases, it involves a paper ticket.
Modern casinos are often designed to look like a grand public space, complete with a large glass ceiling and sweeping stairs. Elaborate surveillance systems provide a high-tech eye in the sky, which allows security personnel to watch every table, window and doorway at once. These cameras can be adjusted to focus on suspicious patrons by security workers in a separate room filled with banks of security monitors.
The most obvious security measure is the presence of security personnel on the floor, keeping an eye on everyone’s moves and watching for blatant cheating. Dealers are trained to spot palming, marking or switching dice and cards. Each table has a pit boss or manager who watches over the dealers and patrons for signs of dishonesty.
While some people consider gambling to be a game of skill, it is really just a game of probability. The house always has an advantage over the players, which is expressed mathematically as the house edge.
Some casinos specialize in specific types of games, such as roulette (which appeals to small bettors and offers a low house edge) or craps. Others offer a wide variety of games, including slot machines and video poker.