A casino is a place where people can play games of chance for money. The games of chance in a casino are often called table games, card games or dice games. Most of these games have an inherent long-term advantage for the casino, which is known as the house edge or vig. The house edge can vary widely from game to game and even from one type of machine to another, but it is almost always present in casino gambling. Casinos typically compensate for this advantage by charging a percentage of each bet, or by taking a share of the profits from certain games. Players who have sufficient skill to eliminate the house advantage in a particular casino game are known as advantage players.
Casinos use a variety of techniques to prevent cheating and stealing, both between patrons and from employees. Video cameras are a ubiquitous feature of modern casinos, and electronic monitoring systems allow for minute-by-minute analysis of betting patterns at tables and to alert supervisors immediately of any statistical deviation from expected results. In addition, many casinos employ the use of chip tracking, in which betting chips are encoded with microcircuitry that enables them to interact with casino software to record the precise amount of money wagered on each bet; and automated or wholly-enclosed slot machines, in which players push buttons rather than pulling levers.
A casino may also offer comps, or complimentary goods and services, to its best customers. These can include free hotel rooms, food and drinks, show tickets and limo service. However, comps must be earned through actual play; a player’s total expenditures over time are usually compared against his or her average bet size to determine whether he or she is a good candidate for comps.
