A casino is a place where people can gamble and play games of chance. Its a business and like any other business it has a number of built in advantages to ensure that they, the house, will always come out ahead. These advantages, known as the house edge, can be small, but they add up over time. Because of this the casinos are able to offer huge jackpots and extravagant inducements to patrons.
A number of different games can be played in a casino, including slots, table games, and poker. In addition, some casinos specialize in a certain type of game or another. For example, some casinos focus on Asian games such as sic bo and fan-tan. Others focus on European casino games, such as baccarat, chemin de fer, blackjack, and trente et quarante. Casinos also often offer video poker and other electronic games.
Security in a casino starts on the floor, where employees keep an eye out for blatant cheating such as palming cards or marking dice. Pit bosses and table managers monitor the tables with a broader view, looking for betting patterns that could indicate cheating. And, of course, security cameras watch everything from a room filled with banks of monitors.