Historically, casinos have been places where people can gamble for money. In modern times, however, a casino can also refer to an establishment which sells alcoholic beverages. Casinos typically have a high profit margin, and in many countries, they are heavily regulated. Some have a large number of security personnel and video cameras, and players are often required to wear special identification. In addition, some casinos have specialized technology that can track the exact amount of money wagered on a particular game or machine, and alert the staff to any statistical deviation from expected results.
Some casinos have games with a skill element, such as poker and blackjack. These games can eliminate the inherent long-term disadvantage of the house (often called the vigorish), if the player possesses sufficient skills. Casinos often reward these players with free or reduced-fare transportation, hotel rooms, food and drinks, cigarette smoking while gambling, and other inducements.
Casinos can be found in almost every country, although some have become known specifically as gambling centers. For example, the Monte Carlo Casino in Monaco is world famous for its gambling and has been a source of income for the principality since 1863. Throughout Europe, casinos are widespread, and in the United States, there are land-based, riverboat, and tribal casinos. The latter were made possible by a change in federal law in the 1990s that allowed tribes to open casinos. They tend to be smaller and more modest in scale than the glamorous palaces of Las Vegas or Atlantic City.