What is a Casino?

A casino is a place where people can gamble by playing games of chance. Usually, the house has an advantage over the players, but there are some games with an element of skill, such as blackjack and poker. Casinos earn money by charging a commission to players, called the rake. Some casinos also give out complimentary items or comps to their players.

Gambling has been a part of human society for millennia. Evidence of dice and other simple games of chance has been found in China as early as 2300 BC. Modern casinos, in contrast, generally focus on complex table games that require more sophisticated skills. The largest concentration of casinos is in Las Vegas, followed by Atlantic City and Chicago. The casinos in these cities are often more luxurious than those in other places.

Beneath the varnish of flashing lights and free cocktails, casinos rest on a bedrock of mathematics, engineered to slowly bleed their patrons of cash. Despite this, for years mathematically inclined minds have tried to turn the tables by using their knowledge of probability and game theory to exploit weaknesses in the rigged system.