A casino is a place where people gamble by playing games of chance or skill. These games may be played at tables, on slot machines or on a craps table. Successful casinos bring in billions of dollars each year for the corporations, investors, and local governments that own them. Casinos are located both in large resorts such as those in Las Vegas and in small card rooms. Casino-type games are also found in racetracks and on boats and barges on waterways, as well as in some truck stops, bars, restaurants and other smaller businesses that allow them under state gambling laws.

A casino makes money by charging a “vig” or “rake” to each game played. This can be as low as two percent, depending on the specific games. This money, combined with the profits from bets placed by patrons, gives the casino a mathematical advantage over each player. This is enough of an edge that casinos can afford to offer lavish inducements to attract the biggest bettors, such as free spectacular entertainment, luxury hotel rooms and transportation, and reduced-fare transportation and food.

Because of the large amounts of money involved, casino employees and patrons may be tempted to cheat or steal. To counter this, casinos employ a number of security measures. Surveillance cameras are placed throughout the casino, and staff can watch over games from catwalks suspended above the floor, through one-way glass. Casinos also monitor game results, and pit bosses and table managers are trained to spot blatant cheating such as palming, marking or switching cards or dice.