A casino is a place where people can gamble by playing games of chance or skill. In most cases, the games have mathematically determined odds that give the house an advantage over the players. The advantage is usually called the house edge or expected value. In games where players compete against each other, such as poker, casinos earn money through a commission known as the rake.
Modern casinos typically employ a combination of physical security forces and specialized surveillance departments. Surveillance staff use closed circuit television to monitor activities in the casino. In addition, many casinos have catwalks that allow surveillance staff to look directly down on the tables and slot machines from above.
In the United States, casinos are licensed and regulated by state governments. There are approximately 1,000 casinos nationwide. Most are located in cities with large populations, although there are a few in rural areas. A few cities are famous for their casinos, such as Monte Carlo, Las Vegas, and Atlantic City.
A casino is a gambling establishment with table games, such as blackjack and craps, and also offers sports betting. It is staffed by croupiers and dealers who conduct the games. In addition to traditional casino games, many casinos offer a variety of far eastern games, such as sic bo, fan-tan, and pai gow.