A casino is an establishment for certain types of gambling. Some casinos are standalone facilities, while others are combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and cruise ships. The largest casinos are located in Las Vegas and Atlantic City. Many states have legalized casino gambling.
The games played in casinos are largely chance, but some have an element of skill. The mathematical odds always favor the house, and this advantage is sometimes referred to as the “house edge”. In games with an element of skill, such as blackjack, the casino’s profit comes from taking a commission or rake from the players.
Because casinos are businesses that must make money to survive, they employ mathematicians and computer programmers who analyze the odds of various games to determine their expected value and variance (a measure of risk). These professionals are called gaming mathematicians or analysts. Casinos also use sophisticated technology to supervise their games. For example, betting chips have built-in microcircuitry that enables them to track and verify the amount of each bet minute by minute; roulette wheels are electronically monitored regularly to discover any statistical deviation from their expected values; and video cameras are used to record patrons’ activities. The use of bright and often gaudy colors in casino decoration is designed to stimulate the senses and encourage gambling activity. Some casinos even have no clocks on their walls to prevent players from keeping track of time and losing focus. In 2004, a poll conducted by the American Gaming Association showed that 54% of respondents considered casino gambling acceptable for anyone.
