A Casino (sometimes known as a gambling house, a gaming establishment or a kasino) is a place where people can play a variety of games of chance for money. Casinos often offer a variety of entertainment activities as well, such as shows or fine dining. Some casinos are built on cruise ships or integrated with hotels and resorts. Others are freestanding buildings. The precise origin of gambling is unknown, but it has long been a popular form of entertainment. Casinos are legalized in most countries around the world and are regulated by state or provincial laws.
A casino is a business, and as with any other business, it must earn money in order to remain solvent. Because of this, every game offered by a casino has a built in mathematical advantage for the house, which is designed to ensure that it will make a profit on each bet placed. This edge can be quite small, sometimes less than two percent of the total amount of money wagered on a game, but over time this can add up to a significant amount of gross profit.
Security in a casino starts with the floor personnel, who are trained to spot a variety of cheating techniques such as card marking and dice swindling. Dealers also keep their eyes peeled for unusual betting patterns that may be a sign of cheating by other players or the house. Cameras that provide a high-tech “eye-in-the-sky” allow security staff to monitor all aspects of the gaming floor and track suspicious patrons.
