What Is a Casino?

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A casino is an establishment for certain types of gambling. In the United States, casinos are often combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and other tourist attractions. In many cases, casinos are known for hosting poker games and tournaments and have employees dedicated to ensuring fair play.

In general, all casino games have a statistically determined long-term disadvantage to players, known as the house edge or vigorish. This disadvantage can be eliminated by skillful playing, as in the case of poker and blackjack. Nonetheless, casinos earn profit by taking a commission on winning bets, or through the rake in table games such as baccarat.

In the 21st century, many casino resorts have become large and luxurious with amenities such as high-end restaurants, spas, and celebrity entertainment venues. The Bellagio in Las Vegas is famous for its dancing fountains and has featured prominently in the movie Ocean’s 11. Caesars Palace, a legendary casino on the Strip, has been host to such superstar entertainers as Frank Sinatra and Liberace. These casino resorts are typically staffed by a combination of physical security forces and specialized surveillance departments. They have strict security rules and monitor their guests closely to prevent criminal activity. In the event of a security breach, the casino is usually required to pay a significant sum to cover damages and losses. The most common method of preventing a security breach is through the use of cameras and other electronic surveillance equipment.