A casino is a place where people gamble on games of chance or with an element of skill. There is a wide variety of games available, and the house always has a built-in advantage. This is known as the house edge and is mathematically determined for each game. Casinos may also give out complimentary items or comps to players, such as free hotel rooms, meals and tickets to shows. Casinos make a significant amount of money for their owners and employees, as well as local governments. This income can help fund community services and infrastructure projects, or at least allow politicians to avoid raising taxes elsewhere.
Casinos are often located in large cities to draw tourists and business travelers, and they may feature a broad range of entertainment options. Some are highly themed, such as the Las Vegas version of the Bellagio, which features dancing fountains and luxurious accommodations. Others are purely gambling establishments, such as the Golden Nugget in Reno, Nevada.
Casinos are subject to a high level of security, especially given the large amounts of money handled within them. The security staff monitors patrons and the games for blatant cheating or theft. They use technology to help them do this, such as in “chip tracking” (betting chips with built-in microcircuitry), which allows casinos to track exactly how much is being wagered minute by minute; and electronic monitoring of roulette wheels that warns them immediately of any statistical deviation from their expected results. In addition, casino patrons are subject to a number of other types of security measures, including background checks and random searches upon entry.