What Is a Casino?

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A casino is a gambling establishment where patrons may gamble on games of chance or skill. Some casinos also offer sports betting. Most modern casinos are built with sophisticated surveillance and security systems. Patrons and employees may be tempted to cheat or steal, in collusion or independently; casinos have security measures to deter this. These include cameras, guards, and other security devices.

Most casino games have mathematically determined house edges, which ensure that the casino will always make a profit (known as expected value) from the players’ bets. The house edge is usually uniformly negative, and can be computed by using basic strategy (without the use of advanced techniques such as card counting). In games where the players compete against each other, the casino earns money via a commission known as the rake.

Casinos often hire mathematicians and computer programmers who specialize in game theory to create and analyze strategies for their slot machines and other games. These professionals are known as gaming mathematicians and analytical mathematicians.

During the 1990s, casino technology dramatically increased; for example, betting chips with built-in microcircuitry allow casinos to monitor exact amounts wagered minute by minute; and roulette wheels are electronically monitored to discover any statistical deviation from their expected results. In addition, video cameras are used to supervise casino activities.

Some casinos are built with exotic locales in mind, such as the opulent Hippodrome in London’s West End. Others, such as the Grand Lisboa in Macau, east Asia’s version of Vegas, are designed to be the world’s most spectacular.