A casino is a facility for certain types of gambling. Casinos are often combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops or other tourist attractions. In some countries, casinos are legalized and regulated by state or provincial governments. Casinos are also a source of revenue for the cities in which they operate. Many critics argue that the economic gains from casinos do not offset the costs to society from problem gambling, which includes money spent on treating compulsive gamblers and lost productivity at work.
Most modern casinos have a security department divided into two components: a physical security force that patrols the building, and a specialized surveillance department that operates the casino’s closed circuit television system, known as an eye in the sky. Both departments share information and work together to deter crime. Due to the large amounts of currency handled within a casino, both patrons and staff may be tempted to cheat or steal. Security measures prevent this by making it difficult for anyone to see the inner workings of a machine or account balance, and by using cameras to monitor all activity.
Table games, such as blackjack, craps, baccarat, and roulette are commonly found at casinos. These games usually have some element of skill, but the house always has a mathematical advantage over the players. The exact house edge for a particular game is determined by the rules of the game and can be minimized by using basic strategy.