A casino, also known as a gaming hall or a gambling establishment, is a place where people can gamble and enjoy other entertainment activities. Many casinos offer table games like roulette, craps, and blackjack. They may also feature video poker machines and other electronic games. Some casinos have restaurants. Others have entertainment attractions like shows. These attractions generate significant revenue for the casinos.
In the United States, casinos are regulated by state law. Some states have passed laws that regulate the types of games offered and the minimum age for gambling. Many states have also established licensing procedures for casino owners and operators.
Most casino games are based on chance, but some have an element of skill. In games where the house has an advantage, such as blackjack, the mathematically determined odds are called the house edge. When players play against each other, as in poker, the casino earns money from their wagers through a commission known as the rake.
Modern casinos use technology to monitor player activity and game play. In some cases, this involves “chip tracking,” in which betting chips have built-in microcircuitry that interacts with casino systems to allow casinos to oversee the exact amounts bet minute-by-minute and warn of any statistical deviation from expected results; other examples include electronic surveillance of roulette wheels to detect any anomalies. Many casinos also have a physical security force and a specialized surveillance department. These departments work closely together to protect both guests and property.