Casino is an establishment that offers a variety of gambling games. Often it also offers a variety of other amenities like hotels, restaurants and entertainment. In addition, many of these casinos also offer online gaming and sports betting.
Beneath the varnish of flashing lights and free cocktails, casinos stand on a bedrock of mathematics, engineered to slowly bleed patrons of their cash. For years mathematically inclined minds have tried to turn the tables, using probability and game theory to exploit weaknesses in a rigged system. One amusing anecdote relates that when the American Physical Society held a conference in Las Vegas in 1986, local newspapers ran the headline “Physicists in Town, Lowest Casino Take Ever.”
While some casino games require only luck, most have some element of skill, such as blackjack and video poker. Most casino games have a house edge, which is the average advantage that the casino has over players; it may be expressed as a percentage or as a mathematical expectation. The casino may also impose commissions on players, such as the rake in poker.
Modern casinos use technology extensively to supervise their operations. Video cameras and computers monitor the games to discover any statistical deviations from expected results. Chip tracking systems, for instance, allow the casino to follow each betting pattern minute by minute. Roulette wheels are electronically monitored to detect any imbalances that might signal a bias. Security in a casino is usually divided into a physical force that patrols the property and a specialized surveillance department.