A casino (or gaming house) is an establishment for gambling. Many casinos also offer food and beverage services, as well as hotel accommodations. Some are standalone buildings, while others are part of large resorts or hotels. Casinos are usually heavily guarded to prevent theft and robbery, and employ many security measures. In addition to cameras, they use special chips with built-in microcircuitry that interact with gaming machines or with roulette wheels to enable them to monitor betting patterns and detect anomalies.
Casino games include both slot machines and table games, such as blackjack or poker. The house edge for these games depends on the rules, number of decks, and other factors. In some cases, players can reduce the house edge by learning basic strategy or by counting cards. The casino may also earn money from players by charging a commission, known as the rake, on some games.
The most famous casinos are located in Las Vegas, Nevada, but they have been established throughout the world. Several American states have amended their antigambling laws in the 1980s and 1990s to allow casinos, including on Indian reservations. These new casinos have increased competition for existing ones in the United States, and some are seeking to expand beyond their traditional geographic boundaries. Casinos are also popular with tourists, who visit for entertainment and relaxation. They can also be used for meetings and conferences. The industry is highly regulated by both state and federal laws.