Casino is the name of a building or room where people play gambling games. Most casinos are equipped with a large number of slot machines and gaming tables. Most of the games are based on chance, but some require skill or strategy. The casino industry is a major source of revenue for many countries.
About 51 million Americans visited a casino in 2002, according to the American Gaming Association. The figure includes tourists and locals, as well as those who gambled at home. The most popular casino games are craps, roulette, and poker.
Most games have a built-in advantage for the house, which can be small (less than two percent) or huge, depending on how many bets are placed and how much money is wagered. The advantage is also known as the house edge or expected value, and it varies by game type. In games where players compete against each other, the house takes a cut of each bet, which is called rake.
In order to attract and keep customers, casinos offer various perks. Some entice big bettors with free spectacular entertainment, luxury accommodations and transportation, and even reduced-fare tickets to other shows.
To help deter cheating and stealing, casinos employ various measures to increase security. For example, some use a high-tech “eye-in-the-sky” system that allows security workers to monitor the casino floor from a control room filled with banks of video monitors. Others use a network of cameras that monitor every table, window, and doorway, and can be adjusted to focus on suspicious patrons by security personnel.