A casino, or gaming house, is a facility for certain types of gambling. Many casinos are combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops or other tourist attractions. Some are also known for hosting live entertainment events such as stand-up comedy, concerts or sports matches.
The casino industry has a number of security measures in place to protect patrons and property. These include a physical security force and specialized surveillance departments. Modern casinos are often wired with CCTV cameras and monitors. In addition to these, some have catwalks above the casino floor which allow surveillance personnel to look down through one way glass on activities at tables and slot machines.
Most casino games have mathematically determined odds that ensure the house has an advantage over the players, a concept called expected value or house edge. The advantage can be large in games such as blackjack, roulette and baccarat or small in others such as keno and video poker. The house makes its profit in games such as baccarat by taking a percentage of each bet or, in the case of regular poker, by charging an hourly rake.
Some states have banned the operation of casinos, but others permit them on Indian reservations or in other jurisdictions where they are not subject to state antigambling laws. Regardless of their legal status, casinos are powerful sources of income and attract visitors from all over the world. Their opulence and glamour have made them an important part of the tourism industry and they are depicted in popular culture such as films, novels and TV shows.