A casino is an establishment that offers various types of gambling. It may also offer table games, such as blackjack, craps, and roulette. Players gamble cash or casino chips on the results of random events, and some casinos also host poker tournaments.
Casinos are often combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, and cruise ships. Many have security measures, such as cameras, to deter crime. The casino industry is regulated in most countries, and large casinos are often operated by companies that own or lease other facilities, such as airports and entertainment complexes.
The elegant spa town of Baden-Baden became a playground for Europe’s aristocracy 150 years ago, and its casino continues to attract the rich and famous. Designed to resemble Versailles’ baroque flourishes, this sprawling complex entices visitors with a range of table games and slot machines, plus high-roller salons, live sporting events, and luxurious accommodations.
Table games are board games that require some skill but mostly rely on chance, and they can be played on the floor or in the air, with or without a dealer. Some are based on racing, with the tables board representing a linear race track and start and finish points. Others, such as the Scottish game of Alfonso’s Los Doze Canes or the English games of Doublets and Catch Dolt, are card-based games. The house has a mathematical advantage in most of these games, and the fee or commission it collects is called the rake.