A casino (also known as a gambling house or casin) is an establishment that offers various forms of gambling. The games offered may include slot machines, table games such as blackjack and poker, and racetrack betting on horse races and other sports. Some casinos also offer dining and other amenities. In the United States, casinos are regulated by state law and are required to provide players with certain information such as the house edge of each game. The house edge is the average advantage over the player, and it is determined by the rules of the game. In some games, such as baccarat, the house’s advantage is not known in advance; in others, it is mathematically determined.
In addition to traditional gambling, casinos often feature entertainment venues such as stage shows, comedy clubs and a variety of restaurants. The casino industry is a major source of income for many municipalities and states. It also contributes to the economy of neighboring regions. However, it can also be a source of controversy, such as when a casino opens near an area where residents have strong objections.
Given the large amounts of money handled within a casino, both patrons and employees may be tempted to cheat or steal, either in collusion with each other or independently; thus most casinos have security measures in place. These range from the simplest, such as cameras located throughout the facility, to the most complex, such as chip tracking technology that allows surveillance personnel to monitor bets made minute-by-minute and quickly discover any statistical deviation.