A casino is a public room or building where gambling games (such as roulette, baccarat, blackjack, poker, and slot machines) are played. Casinos are also known as gaming houses and have been in existence for over 300 years. They are a major source of revenue in many states, and are generally considered to be entertainment centers.

In modern times casinos have increased in sophistication and offer a wide variety of table games and slot machines. The Bellagio in Las Vegas, for example, is famous for its dancing fountains and offers high-end accommodations and dining options. Casinos are generally supervised by both a physical security force and a specialized surveillance department. The latter uses closed circuit television to monitor the activity in all areas of the casino, including its outside grounds.

Each game in a casino has an inherent long-term advantage for the house, or “bank,” and a short-term disadvantage for players. The mathematical analysis of these advantages is the work of mathematicians and computer programmers who are known as gaming mathematicians or gaming analysts. Casinos generally outsource this work to specialists in this field.

Traditionally, casino games have favored large bettors over small ones. Thus, a game such as roulette will often reduce its house edge to less than 1 percent for larger bettors in order to attract them. The large bettors also provide much of the profit from games such as craps, in which the house’s advantage is only around 1.4 percent. However, in recent times some smaller bettors have become a major source of income for casinos, especially those based on the American model.