A casino is a gambling establishment that offers games of chance and, in some cases, skill. Casinos are most famous for their gambling but some also offer entertainment, top-notch hotels, spas and restaurants.
Most casinos feature a variety of table games such as blackjack, craps and roulette. Some are operated by a croupier while others allow players to bet against each other. The house advantage, a mathematical certainty that is built into every casino game, can vary from game to game but is uniformly negative (from the player’s perspective) over time. Skilled players can reduce the house edge by learning basic strategy.
The Bellagio Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, known for its synchronized fountains that perform daily, features 2,000 slot machines and 130 tables featuring poker, roulette and blackjack. It is also known for hosting high-end poker tournaments and has attracted many professional players because of its generous betting limits. The casino has also been featured in several movies such as Ocean’s 11.
Due to the large amount of cash handled within a casino, security is paramount. Modern casinos usually have a physical security force and a specialized surveillance department. The latter is responsible for operating the casino’s closed circuit television system, which can monitor activity throughout the facility using one-way mirrors or “catwalks” that extend from the ceiling above the gaming floor. These are primarily used to monitor activity in the poker rooms, but can be used elsewhere in the casino as well.