The Casino Industry
A casino is a place where people can gamble and bet on various events. A casino is usually operated by a private individual, group of individuals, or company. The casino industry is a major source of revenue in many countries around the world. In some cases, the government regulates the operation of casinos, but in most cases the industry is completely legal.
The casino industry is based on games of chance, although some may include an element of skill. Most casino games have a mathematically determined house edge, which is a percentage of the total amount wagered that the casino expects to make. This advantage is sometimes expressed as an expected value, or expected return on investment. The house edge does not apply to all casino games, however, and the profitability of individual games varies.
While most casino gambling is concentrated in cities such as Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and Chicago, many smaller communities also have a local casino. These are often smaller and less opulent than the large, luxury casinos in cities such as Las Vegas. Almost all casinos offer some form of poker and other card games, as well as electronic gaming machines.
In modern casinos, security is generally divided between a physical security force and a specialized surveillance department. The former patrols the floor and responds to calls for assistance or suspicious activity, while the latter monitors a closed circuit television system known as the “eye in the sky”. Both departments work closely with each other to ensure the safety of patrons and the integrity of the casino’s assets.