A casino is a place where people can gamble on games of chance. These places add other amenities like musical shows, shopping centers and top-notch hotels to lure in visitors but the vast majority of their profits come from gambling. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette, baccarat and craps are among the games that give casinos that thrill many of us experience vicariously through the movies.

A casino’s security starts with its employees, who keep an eye on players for any blatant cheating. Pit bosses and table managers have a broader view of the tables and can spot betting patterns that may signal dishonest play. Video cameras are also used to monitor table games and watch for any suspicious activity. In the 1990s, technology began to be used for more than just surveillance. Betting chips have microcircuitry that can be tracked minute by minute to oversee the exact amount of money wagered; roulette wheels are electronically monitored to discover any statistical deviations from expected results.

A casino’s house edge is the mathematical advantage the establishment has over its patrons. It varies by game and is expressed as a percentage. The more a player wagers, the higher the house edge is. To offset this, casinos often offer “comps,” or complimentary items, to high-volume players. These can include hotel rooms, meals and limo service. A casino’s rake, the amount it takes from poker and other card games, is usually a percentage of the pot.