What Is a Casino?

When most people think of a casino, they think of Las Vegas or other glitzy places where gamblers throw down chips and watch the roulette ball bounce between black and red. But casinos are much more than gambling houses. They are temples of temptation decked out in opulent furnishings and overflowing bars, where the thrill of high stakes is elevated to an art form.

In a casino, customers gamble by playing games of chance or skill; the latter include blackjack, baccarat, and video poker. Most games have mathematically determined odds that ensure the house always has an advantage over players, known as the house edge (or expected value). The casino earns money by charging a commission on winning bets, called the rake. Some casinos also offer complimentary items or comps to gamblers.

Casinos are found in many cities and towns across the world. They are most heavily concentrated in the United States, particularly Nevada and Atlantic City; but also exist in Europe, Asia, Australia, and Latin America. In the United States, most casinos are operated by Native American tribes on reservations, which are exempt from state antigambling laws. In the 1980s, a groundswell of change caused by several legal victories allowed Atlantic City and other commercial casinos to expand; since then, more than thirty states have permitted them.

Some casinos have adopted technological innovations to improve security and customer service. For instance, in some games, the use of microcircuitry allows a player’s betting chips to interact with electronic systems that monitor and record the exact amount wagered minute by minute; this data can then be used to quickly discover any anomaly.