A casino is a facility for certain types of gambling. Casinos are often built near or combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, cruise ships, and other tourist attractions. They may also feature live entertainment such as stand-up comedy, concerts, and sports. In military and non-military usage, a casino (Spanish) or Kasino (German) is an officers’ mess.
There are more than a thousand casinos worldwide, though the largest concentration is in Las Vegas and the surrounding area. The casino industry is regulated by state law and by the gaming commission of each jurisdiction. The casino business is a profitable enterprise because of the high volume of turnover and the relatively small amount of money wagered by each player. Casinos earn their profits primarily from the house edge of their games, but also from a percentage of the monies bet on the machines and from a rake of poker tournaments.
While the casino has a built-in advantage, gamblers can reduce that advantage by learning basic strategy and adjusting their bets according to the rules of each game. Using mathematical analysis, casino game mathematicians and analysts determine the house edge and variance for each game; this allows players to make informed decisions about the games they play. Security measures are a necessity in a casino, since patrons and staff may be tempted to cheat or steal. In addition to standard video surveillance, some casinos use technology that electronically monitors the activity of each table or machine, detecting any unusual behavior.