What Is a Casino?

A casino is a public place where gambling games are played and where money is the primary currency. A casino may also have restaurants, stage shows and other entertainment offerings. In the United States, casinos are regulated by state law. Almost every country has a casino of some sort, although some have banned or limited gambling activities while others have strict licensing requirements for players and operators.

Casinos are distinguished by a variety of games that offer an element of chance, in some cases with an element of skill. Many of these games have mathematically determined odds that give the house an advantage over the players, which can be expressed more precisely as expected value, or in a simpler way as the house edge. Some of the more common games include roulette, baccarat, blackjack, craps, poker and video slots.

Security is another significant feature of a casino. It starts with the employees on the floor, who keep their eyes on patrons to look for blatant cheating like palming or marking cards or dice. Pit bosses and table managers watch the games with a broader view, checking for betting patterns that could indicate cheating. Cameras can be used to monitor the entire casino, or specific tables and windows, or even individual patrons.

The typical gambler in the twenty-first century is a forty-six-year-old woman from a household with above-average income. In 2005, she made up 23% of all casino gamblers, according to a study by Roper Reports GfK NOP and TNS. She tends to play more on the slot machines, where the house edge is higher than for most other games.