What is a Casino?
The Casino is a place where people gamble by playing games of chance. These games may include slot machines, keno, blackjack, roulette and craps. Casinos also offer a variety of other gambling activities such as sports betting and horse racing. Many casinos are luxurious places with restaurants, free drinks and stage shows. Others are less extravagant but still house gambling activities. Casinos earn their money by charging a small percentage of each bet to the players. This percentage is called the house edge and it can vary from game to game. Casinos hire mathematicians and computer programmers to analyze the house edges and variance of different casino games.
Casinos make sure to attract enough players to cover their costs by offering comps (free goods or services) to the big spenders. For example, a player who makes large bets on slot machines can receive free hotel rooms, dinners and show tickets. Players can ask a casino employee or information desk for details on how to get comps.
Casinos use security measures to protect their patrons and assets. These measures begin on the casino floor, where employees keep a close eye on the players and games to prevent cheating or stealing. Some casinos have catwalks above the gaming floors, which allow surveillance personnel to look down on tables and slots through one way glass. The employees on the floor also have specific routines they follow when dealing cards and dice, making it easier for security to spot deviations from the expected behavior.
