A casino is a gambling establishment where patrons can wager real money on games of chance. The games offered are typically of a slot machine, video poker or table variety. Some casinos also feature sports books and race tracks. In the United States, casinos are licensed and regulated by state governments. Until the 1980s, most American states prohibited casinos, but they began to appear after that time, especially on Indian reservations.
Many casinos have security measures in place to prevent cheating and stealing by either patrons or employees. The presence of cameras throughout the casino and the use of surveillance personnel are common. Some casinos have catwalks that allow surveillance personnel to look directly down, through one-way glass, on the activities at tables and slots. In addition, most casinos require players to keep their faces visible at all times when playing card games, as well as requiring that all currency be visible at all times when being handled.
A casino is a business, and as such it must make a profit in order to stay in operation. For this reason, every game has a built-in advantage that ensures the house will win, or at least break even. The size of a casino’s edge depends on the specific rules and the number of players involved in each game. To maximize their profits, casinos regularly offer big bettors extravagant inducements in the form of free spectacular entertainment and transportation, elegant living quarters, reduced-fare transportation to and from the casino, and complimentary drinks and cigarettes while gambling.