A casino, or gambling house, is a place where people can gamble and play games of chance. Often, casinos also offer food and drink, entertainment and luxury facilities. There are many different types of casino games. Some are played on computers, and some are played with live dealers. The games that are offered in a casino can vary greatly, depending on the laws of the country where the casino is located.

A number of technological innovations have increased casino security in recent years. Video cameras are frequently used to monitor the action, and computer systems can oversee the exact amounts wagered minute-by-minute on a slot machine or roulette wheel to detect any statistical deviations from expected results. In addition, casinos use sophisticated chips with built-in microcircuitry that interact with electronic systems in the table, and they employ pit bosses and tables managers to watch for blatant cheating techniques such as “palming” (fooling a dealer by holding the cards under their hand) or the marking or switching of dice or cards.

There’s one certainty in casino gambling: The house always wins. Each casino game has a built-in advantage for the casino, usually no more than two percent, that it will earn over time. That advantage, known as the house edge, is what enables casinos to offer big bettors extravagant inducements such as free spectacular entertainment, luxury accommodations and transportation. Moreover, it allows casinos to build elaborate hotels, fountains, towers and replicas of famous landmarks.