A casino (or gambling house) is an establishment where people can gamble. Often casinos are combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops and/or other tourist attractions. In some countries, casinos are operated by government-licensed gaming operators. In other countries, casinos are owned and operated by private individuals or corporations. Some casinos are located in major cities, while others are found in smaller towns or rural areas. In some cases, casinos are even set up on ships or in military bases.
While most casino games involve chance, some have an element of skill. Most of the time the house has an advantage over the players, known as the house edge. This is because of the fact that there are mathematically determined odds for each game and the house must make a profit on all bets placed. Generally speaking, the higher the bet amount, the larger the house edge.
Besides offering traditional table games like blackjack and roulette, most casinos also offer other popular games such as poker. In addition, some casinos may feature Far Eastern games such as sic bo, fan-tan and pai gow. Moreover, some casinos are known for their live entertainment and top-notch hotels, spas and restaurants. Due to the large amounts of money handled within a casino, both patrons and staff members may be tempted to cheat or steal, either in collusion or independently; hence, most casinos employ various security measures to prevent such activities. The most common method is by using surveillance systems.