A casino is an establishment for certain types of gambling. Some casinos are combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, cruise ships or other tourist attractions. They may also be entirely standalone operations. In some countries, casinos are operated by government-licensed businesses. In other countries, they are operated by private corporations. In either case, casinos are generally designed to maximize revenue. Some of the more lucrative games are blackjack, craps and roulette. These games require large bets and attract big-betters who can sustain a substantial advantage. The house edge of these games is typically less than one percent, but they can be as high as fourteen or even forty percent.
The popularity of casino games has grown steadily, with a proliferation of new machines and games appearing almost weekly. Some of these are completely automated, with the player simply pressing buttons to initiate the game, while others feature a live dealer or other human participants. Some of the more popular games include video poker, blackjack, roulette, baccarat and craps. Many casinos employ multiple methods to ensure security, including cameras, electronic monitoring, and rules of conduct and behavior. Some use sophisticated technology, such as chip tracking, to monitor the exact amount wagered minute-by-minute and alert management to any anomaly; likewise, a roulette wheel is electronically monitored regularly to detect statistical deviations from expected results. A number of casinos are also staffed with security guards who patrol the gaming areas.