What Is a Casino?

A casino (from the Latin “caios” meaning “a small house”) is a facility that houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Traditionally, casinos have been very lavish places that feature architecture, shows and other entertainment that appeal to the senses.

The most common casino games are slots, which allow players to insert coins and press a button, hoping that bands of colored shapes will roll on the reels in a winning pattern. Unlike card games or dice, which require skill to play, slots are pure chance; no amount of player input will change the outcome. Casinos typically earn the largest proportion of their money from these machines.

In modern casinos, video cameras and electronic systems monitor games for suspicious activity. For example, in a game called “chip tracking,” betting chips with built-in microcircuitry communicate with computer systems in the tables to enable casinos to oversee the exact amounts wagered minute-by-minute and to be warned instantly of any anomaly; roulette wheels are electronically monitored regularly to discover any statistical deviation from their expected results.

There are many other games that casinos offer, including blackjack, baccarat and craps. In some casinos, these are played on tables that are manned by dealers. In others, players place their bets by pushing buttons on machines containing cards that are dealt by a computer. Because large amounts of money are handled within casinos, both patrons and employees may be tempted to cheat or steal, either in collusion with each other or independently. Security measures include surveillance cameras and strict employee training.

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