A casino (also known as a gambling hall or card room) is a facility for people to gamble in games of chance and skill. It features slot machines and table games like blackjack and poker, and is overseen by a croupier. Some casinos also have restaurants and theaters. Some are located in massive resorts, while others are in smaller buildings or on boats. Gambling has been a part of human culture for millennia, and the modern casino industry is an enormous global business that generates billions of dollars in revenue each year for its owners, shareholders, employees, and customers.
Casinos usually have mathematically determined odds that ensure that the house will always win, assuming that all bets are placed correctly and that no one player wins more than the house can afford to pay. This advantage, known as the house edge, is a fundamental characteristic of casino games, and it can be calculated for many individual games. In some games, such as blackjack, the house edge is less than a single percentage point, depending on the rules and number of decks used.
Casinos are designed to maximize entertainment and profits, and they often offer perks such as free meals and drinks or discounted hotel rooms to attract and keep high-rollers. Security is also a priority, with most major casinos employing cameras and other surveillance technology to prevent cheating and other criminal activity. Casinos may also have catwalks over the gambling floor, allowing security personnel to look down on players.