A casino is a gambling establishment, offering a wide range of games where people can win or lose money. Customers gamble with cash or other types of credit, and the house usually takes a percentage of the winnings. A number of states have legalized casinos, although the practice is banned in many other places. People can also gamble by betting on sports events, the lottery, or online. In addition to a casino, some countries have special facilities for gambling, such as a racetrack or a horse racing track.
Most casino games provide a predictable long-term advantage to the house (known as the house edge) while offering the players the possibility of a short-term gain. Players who possess sufficient skill to eliminate the house edge are known as advantage players. Casinos are often located near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and other tourist attractions. Some casinos are even open around the clock and serve drinks, food, and snacks to their patrons.
Because of the large amounts of money involved, casino security is a high priority for operators. Modern casinos typically employ both a physical security force and a specialized surveillance department. The security forces patrol the facility and respond to calls for assistance or reports of suspicious or definite criminal activity. Surveillance staff also monitors all activities in the casino using closed circuit television systems.