A casino is a gambling establishment where various kinds of gambling games can be played. The word is derived from the Latin Casina meaning a small building or room. Casinos usually have gaming tables, slot machines, and other popular games like roulette, baccarat, craps, and keno. Some casinos also have stage shows and other entertainment. Many casinos also have restaurants and bars. Some casinos are located in hotels and resorts, while others are standalone facilities.
Casinos make money from the millions of bets placed by gamblers. Each game has a built in house advantage, which can be lower than two percent, but over time that tiny edge earns the casino billions of dollars. The profits are used to pay the casino staff, buy new games and maintain the facility.
The large amount of currency handled in a casino makes it vulnerable to theft and cheating by both patrons and employees. To prevent these problems, casinos employ a variety of security measures. Elaborate surveillance systems include cameras in every corner of the casino, which can be adjusted to focus on suspicious patrons. Security personnel also monitor all transactions and activities in the casino.
Casinos can be found in the United States and around the world. In the United States they are primarily located in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and other locations with legalized gambling. However, in the 1970s they began appearing on American Indian reservations, which are not subject to state anti-gambling laws. In addition, there are many online casinos.