A casino (or poker room or gambling hall) is a facility that offers various forms of gambling. Casinos are usually owned and operated by private individuals or corporations, and customers gamble by playing games of chance, with some having an element of skill. The house always has an advantage over the players, which is mathematically determined and known as the house edge. In games such as blackjack and roulette that require a minimum amount of skill, the house edge is lower than in others. In table games such as craps, roulette, and baccarat that involve the dealer, the house takes a commission called the rake.
Modern casinos employ a variety of technology to monitor and control their gaming activities. For example, chips with built-in microcircuitry interact with electronic systems at tables to allow the casino to oversee exactly how much is wagered minute by minute and warn employees of any anomalies. In addition, video cameras and computers can track player activity and provide statistical information to supervisors.
Many people associate a casino with a place like Las Vegas, but the gambling industry is spread across the globe and encompasses facilities of varying sizes and styles. Some are huge resorts, with thousands of slot machines and several hundred table games; others are small local businesses defined by the types of gambling they offer. All casinos, however, must be licensed and regulated by a provincial or territorial authority in order to operate.