What is a Casino?

A casino is a gambling establishment that offers a variety of games of chance for customers. In some casinos, skill is an element in the games as well (such as blackjack). Casinos make money by charging a commission on each bet made by a player, known as the vig or rake. In other games, the casino has a built in advantage, which is mathematically determined and uniformly negative from the player’s perspective (and therefore sometimes called the house edge).

Casinos may also provide food, drinks, entertainment and other amenities for their guests. Many casinos are themed, with architecture and interior design reflecting a particular country or region. For example, the Las Vegas Strip is known for its luxurious casinos, while Monte Carlo is famous for its classic gaming rooms.

Due to the large amounts of money handled within a casino, there is an increased potential for cheating and theft by both patrons and staff. As a result, most casinos spend a great deal of time and effort on security measures. These often include surveillance cameras located throughout the facility, and on the casino floor, where security personnel can look directly down through one way glass on the activities at each table and slot machine.

Because of gambling’s seamy reputation, many legitimate businessmen were reluctant to invest in a casino. This created an opening for organized crime figures to take over the businesses, providing funding through illegal rackets like drug dealing and extortion. Mafia-controlled casinos became the hallmark of Reno, Las Vegas and other gambling destinations in Nevada.