A casino, or gambling establishment, is a place where people gamble money on various games of chance. The games include card games, dice games like baccarat and roulette, and other table games such as blackjack. Casinos are a popular form of entertainment and some of them are very large, with many tables and a variety of slot machines. In addition to the gaming facilities, casinos often have restaurants and bars, and performance venues where pop, rock and other musical artists perform.
A small number of states have legalized casinos, but most prohibit them or limit them to Indian reservations. Some modern casinos are elaborate resorts built around themes such as ancient Egypt, Las Vegas and the Wild West. Many casino games are based on luck, but some require skill. Some have a house edge, which is the percentage that a casino expects to retain on average over time. The edge can be less than two percent, but it adds up over millions of bets. Casinos earn money by charging a commission, known as the vig or rake, on bets placed on their games.
Security is a high priority in casinos. Cameras are everywhere, and staff regularly check the tapes for unusual activity. Pit bosses and managers watch over the table games, keeping an eye out for blatant cheating, such as palming or marking cards or switching dice. The casinos also employ technicians who oversee the games themselves, using electronic systems to ensure that the amounts wagered are matched exactly minute by minute. Some of these systems use chips with microcircuitry that allow them to track the amount bet and warn the casino if any discrepancy occurs.