• Home
  • What Is a Casino?

What Is a Casino?

A casino, also known as a gambling house or gaming establishment, is a place where people can gamble and play games. The casino industry is regulated by law in some jurisdictions. Some casinos are open to the public, while others are private establishments. Generally, casino games have a house edge that gives the establishment a predictable long-term profit, while offering patrons the possibility of a short-term gain that may be large enough to attract a wide variety of players. Some casino games have a skill element, giving certain players the ability to overcome the inherent long-term disadvantage of the game. These players are sometimes referred to as advantage players.

Almost all casino games give the house an edge, although the size of that edge varies by game. Some, such as baccarat (also known as chemin de fer in France), have a very high edge, while others, like blackjack and video poker, have a much lower one. Casinos hire mathematicians and computer programmers to calculate the house edge and variance for each of their games. This information is crucial for determining how much money a casino will make as a percentage of turnover and for how many bets it will need to take to cover its overhead.

Located in Pittsburgh’s scenic North Shore, Rivers Casino offers slot machines, Keno, and table games and is within walking distance of the city’s best restaurants. Enjoy delicious food and beer at WD Bar & Grille, Stixx Sports Bar, or Ciao restaurant, and try your luck at winning big at the tables or on the slot machines.