A casino is a place where gambling occurs, including card games like poker, dice games such as craps and wheel games such as roulette. In some countries, casinos also offer electronic gaming machines and other forms of entertainment.
Most casino games are based on chance, but some involve skill as well. In any case, the house always has a built in advantage over players, known as the house edge or the vigorish. The advantage may be lower than two percent, but it adds up over time as millions of bets are placed. This allows the casino to make a profit, which it often returns to gamblers in the form of free spectacular entertainment, elegant living quarters, reduced-fare transportation and other inducements.
Casinos also have elaborate security systems. They usually have cameras mounted in the ceiling above tables and slot machines that can be adjusted to focus on a particular patron if they notice suspicious activity. They also have catwalks that allow surveillance personnel to look down on the activities of a table or machine through one-way glass.
The top casinos in the world combine high stakes and high luxury. From Las Vegas to Macau to Monaco, these exclusive resorts offer opulent suites and spas alongside the roulette wheels and blackjack tables. Some of them even have their own theaters for live performances and breath-taking art installations. Others feature celebrity chefs, high-end restaurants and other amenities that appeal to a wide range of casinogoers.
