What Is a Casino?

A casino is an establishment for certain types of gambling. It may also refer to a room or building used for this purpose. The term is a shortened version of the Latin word casin, meaning “little house.” Casinos are often located in or near resorts and tourist attractions, and are sometimes combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and/or cruise ships. Some casinos host live entertainment events such as concerts and stand-up comedy.

Slot machines are a standard feature of casinos and generate the largest share of casino income, as they do not require any skill or strategy to play. A player simply places a coin or paper ticket into the machine and pulls a handle or pushes a button. Then, varying bands of colored shapes roll past on reels (either actual physical ones or video representations of them). If the corresponding pattern appears on the paytable, the player wins a predetermined amount of money.

Modern casinos rely heavily on technology to prevent cheating and other forms of criminal activity. For instance, betting chips with built-in microcircuitry allow a casino to monitor the exact amounts wagered minute by minute and quickly warn a dealer of any suspicious behavior; roulette wheels are electronically monitored to discover any statistical deviations from expected results; and video cameras constantly monitor all areas of the casino floor.

In addition to traditional games of chance, casinos offer a wide variety of card games, such as blackjack, poker (both live and electronic), baccarat, and craps. Some casinos also offer Asian-themed games such as sic bo, fan-tan, and pai gow poker.