A casino or gambling house is an establishment offering a variety of games for patrons to gamble on. Some casinos also offer live entertainment, such as stand-up comedy, concerts or sports events. Most casinos have security measures in place to prevent cheating and stealing by both patrons and staff members. These measures usually include a combination of physical security and cameras.
Casinos are most often found in cities with tourist appeal, such as Las Vegas or Atlantic City. They may be integrated into hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops or cruise ships. In addition to their traditional gaming tables, modern casinos often have a wide range of electronic machines such as slot machines and video poker. Some of these are designed to be played in multiple ways, and some allow players to control their betting amounts or even select which machine they want to play on.
Most games of chance have mathematically determined odds that ensure the house will always win a certain percentage of the money bet on it, which is known as the house edge. Some games, such as baccarat, attract high-stakes bettors and have lower house edges than others. In poker and other games where players compete against each other, the house takes a commission on winnings, which is known as the rake.
Because of the large amount of money handled in a casino, both patrons and staff are sometimes tempted to cheat or steal. This is why most casinos have strict security measures in place, including cameras and other electronic equipment.