A casino, or gaming house, is a facility for certain types of gambling. Casinos are often built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and other tourist attractions. They may also offer live entertainment such as concerts and shows. Some casinos are devoted to one or more particular games, such as poker, bingo, and baccarat.

In 2005, Harrah’s Entertainment reported that the typical casino gambler was a forty-six-year-old female from a household with an above average income. This demographic accounts for 23% of all casino visitors. Among men, the number was significantly smaller, as only 9% of them gambled in a casino.

Unlike many other types of gambling, where skill can influence the outcome of a game, casino games are statistically random. As a result, the casino has a virtual guarantee of profit if it accepts all bets offered, regardless of the outcome of any individual game. This mathematical expectation is known as the house edge.

While some casinos employ a variety of technological measures to prevent cheating, most rely on human enforcement to maintain a fair atmosphere. Casino security personnel routinely patrol the floor and watch over table games, ensuring that players’ cards are not visible to others. Roulette wheels are regularly monitored to discover any abnormal deviations from their expected outcomes.

Comps, or comped items, are given to “good” casino patrons. These can include free hotel rooms, meals, tickets to shows, limo service, and airline tickets. Those who place large bets and/or play for long periods of time are considered especially valuable to the casino, so they receive special treatment.