A casino, also known as a gambling house, is an establishment that offers various types of gambling. Casinos are often built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and cruise ships. They usually feature a variety of gambling games and machines, as well as live entertainment. Some casinos are operated by professional organizations that specialize in gambling, while others are owned and operated by local governments, tribes, or individuals.
Most casinos feature a wide range of games, including poker, blackjack, roulette, and craps. Some offer regional specialties such as sic bo and fan-tan. Typically, a casino has a noisy and crowded atmosphere with alcoholic beverages served by waiters and waitresses who circulate through the gaming area.
The American Gaming Association reports that the majority of Americans find casino gambling acceptable, especially when it is regulated by state laws. A number of states have changed their gambling laws in recent years to allow for commercial casinos and casino-style games on Indian reservations.
To prevent cheating, most casinos use sophisticated surveillance and security systems. These may include video cameras that monitor the entire casino floor, and electronic systems that record each player’s bets minute by minute and detect any anomaly. In addition, many casino games are audited by independent mathematicians to verify the accuracy of the game’s results. This is particularly important for high-stakes games like roulette and dice, which can have large swings in winnings or losses. The auditors are not employed by the casinos, but are independent contractors.