A casino, also known as a gaming house, is an establishment for certain types of gambling. The word is a shortened version of the Latin phrase ‘casino’, meaning “little house”. Casinos are usually located in or near hotels, resorts, restaurants, cruise ships, or other tourist attractions. Some casinos feature live entertainment, such as stand-up comedy or concerts. They may also offer gaming lessons or host tournaments.
A major source of revenue for a casino is the house edge, which is the average advantage over a player. The size of a casino’s house edge depends on the game played. For example, a table game such as blackjack has an advantage of about 0.5% to 2% over the players. In contrast, a slot machine’s edge is more than 5%.
Casinos have strict rules to prevent cheating. Security personnel frequently patrol the floor and watch for unauthorized activity. In addition, some casinos use cameras to monitor the behavior of patrons. Some casinos even have catwalks in the ceiling that allow surveillance personnel to look directly down on the games from above.
The casino industry is highly competitive, with many chains operating in several locations. Some casinos are upscale and cater to high-income guests; others target local residents. Some casinos are operated by governments, while others are private businesses. In the United States, legal casinos can be found in Atlantic City, New Jersey; Las Vegas, Nevada; Reno, Nevada; and other cities. In addition, Indian reservations are permitted to operate casinos.