A casino is a gambling establishment that offers various types of gaming. It also provides luxurious amenities, such as hotel rooms and spas. In addition to offering a variety of games, casinos also have security measures in place to prevent cheating and stealing. These measures include security cameras and rules that require players to keep their hands visible at all times.
While the first casinos were built around card games and dice, more recently other games have been added to the mix. Some casinos specialize in specific types of casino games, such as sic bo, fan-tan, or pai gow. They also offer other games that are popular in specific regions, such as two-up in Australia, boule in France, or kalooki in Britain.
Casinos are also designed to create an atmosphere that evokes excitement and mystery. Decorative elements such as ornate carpeting and dim lighting contribute to the feeling. The casinos on the Las Vegas Strip are particularly known for their over-the-top decor.
Casinos have security measures in place to prevent cheating by patrons and theft by employees. Security personnel monitor the floor from a room filled with banks of security screens, and they can adjust their view to focus on suspicious patrons. In addition, most casinos have security cameras throughout the facility. Casino employees are trained to spot blatant cheating, such as palming or marking cards. They are also instructed to watch for betting patterns that may signal a cheating attempt. Casinos also hire mathematicians and computer programmers to calculate the house edge and variance for each of their games.