A Casino is a gambling establishment offering a variety of gaming options such as table games, slot machines and live entertainment. Some casinos also have hotels, restaurants and other tourist attractions. In the United States, casinos are regulated by state laws and must be licensed to operate. In some countries, casinos are operated by private companies and are not licensed.
Most casino games involve some degree of skill, and the odds of winning are determined by the house edge. The house edge varies from game to game and can be as low as two percent. This advantage is what allows casinos to make money and finance other ventures. Casinos also earn money from food, drinks and entertainment, but the games are their main source of revenue.
Modern casinos are usually protected by a physical security force and a specialized surveillance department. The surveillance department operates a closed circuit television system, often nicknamed the eye in the sky, that watches everything on the casino floor. It is able to track patron movements and quickly pinpoint suspicious activities. This technology also allows security personnel to watch casino patrons in the privacy of their rooms.
In the early days of the modern casino, organized crime provided the financial backing. Mobster money poured into Reno and Las Vegas, but legitimate businessmen were reluctant to invest in casinos because of the taint of illegality attached to them. Eventually, real estate developers and hotel chains with deep pockets bought out the mob, and today, mob-linked casinos are rare.
