A casino, also known as a gaming establishment or a gambling house, is a facility for certain types of gambling. Many casinos are combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops or other tourist attractions. Some states have enacted laws to regulate the operation of casinos.
In modern times, casinos have increasingly incorporated technology into their operations. For example, in a game of roulette, the wheels are electronically monitored to discover any statistical deviation from their expected results. In addition, most slot machines are wired to a central computer that records each spin and keeps a running total of the player’s winnings or losses.
Most modern casinos have a physical security force that patrols the property and responds to calls for assistance or reports of suspicious or definite criminal activity. There are also specialized departments that watch over the tables, overseeing the activities of dealers and observing patron behavior for any indications of cheating or collusion. Each table has a pit boss or manager who supervises the activities of the players and can alert higher-ups to any suspect behavior.
Because every game in a casino has a mathematical expectancy of being won by the player, it is virtually impossible for any casino to lose money on any one day. This virtual assurance of gross profit is why casinos offer big bettors extravagant inducements like free spectacular entertainment, limousine transportation and elegant living quarters. Even lesser bettors are often given reduced-fare transportation, hotel rooms and free drinks and cigarettes while they gamble.