A Casino, also known as a Gambling House or a Gaming Establishment, is an establishment for gambling. Casinos offer a variety of games to their patrons, including blackjack, roulette, poker, craps, keno and more. They also feature a variety of entertainment and top-notch hotels, spas and restaurants.

While musical shows, lighted fountains and shopping centers lure casino-goers, it’s the games of chance that generate billions in profits every year. Slot machines, blackjack, poker, baccarat and other table games are the main moneymakers, but casinos wouldn’t exist without the gamblers who make them thrive.

Unlike home games, where players deal their own cards or dice, in casinos the dealer handles these tasks. The dealer’s job is to ensure that each player has an equal chance of winning and losing. Skillful players may be able to eliminate the inherent long-term disadvantage, known as the house edge, by employing certain techniques. These players are referred to as advantage players.

Because of the large amounts of money that are handled within a casino, both patrons and employees may be tempted to cheat or steal. Casinos have security measures in place to prevent this. Security personnel monitor the floor from above, ensuring that there are no suspicious patrons or actions. In addition, sophisticated technology enables casinos to watch games more closely than ever before. In a process called “chip tracking,” betting chips with built-in microcircuitry enable casinos to oversee the exact amount of money wagered minute by minute; and specialized systems monitor roulette wheels to discover any deviation from their expected results.