What Is a Casino?

A casino is a place where a variety of games of chance are played and gambling is the primary activity. Some casinos also offer dining, stage shows and other entertainment. The word casino is used to refer to a specific building or room in which the games are played, but it can also refer to an entire gaming establishment. Some casino games require skill and are played against other patrons, such as poker or craps. All casino games give the house a mathematical advantage, which can be measured by expected value, and this advantage is sometimes called a house edge.

A few casinos are quite large. The MGM Grand in Las Vegas, for example, has a hotel, restaurants and a 165-table game room that includes blackjack and roulette mixed in with 130 slot machines. In addition, it has a lively area dedicated to sports betting with 60 plasma televisions.

Most casinos offer a wide range of games and have elaborate security systems. Many have cameras in the ceiling that can be viewed by security personnel who watch players from a room filled with banks of monitors. The patterns of behavior of casino patrons are well known to security staff, and if there is any deviation from the norm, it is easy for the surveillance personnel to spot it. Some casinos also have catwalks in the ceiling that allow security personnel to look down on the tables and slot machines through one-way glass.