A casino is a facility for certain types of gambling. These establishments are often combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, and cruise ships. They may also host live entertainment such as stand-up comedy, concerts, and sports events. In some countries, casinos are licensed and regulated by the government. The word casino is derived from the Italian casona, diminutive of casa (“house”). The modern casino has many security measures in place to ensure that guests and property are safe. These include armed security guards, CCTV cameras, and metal detectors. Some casinos have also implemented electronic systems to monitor activities and detect anomalies, such as the use of a special chip with built-in microcircuitry that interacts with automated betting machines or roulette wheels.
The games played in casinos are generally those of chance, although some have an element of skill, such as blackjack and video poker. The house edge, which is the expected percentage of money lost to the casino, is determined by the rules of each game and can be calculated mathematically. The casino makes a profit by taking a small portion of each bet, sometimes called the vig or rake, or by charging an hourly fee to players.
Some casinos specialize in particular games, such as baccarat (in its popular form known as chemin de fer) and horse racing. Others have a more varied offering, including Far Eastern games such as sic bo (which spread to several European and American casinos in the 1990s), fan-tan and pai gow.