A casino is a place where people gamble by playing games of chance. It has a variety of attractions to draw in customers, such as free drinks, restaurants and stage shows, but gambling is always the primary activity.

Some casinos are designed to look like a specific location or period in history, and some even have a theme park attached to them. These extras help bring in revenue, but the vast majority of a casino’s profits come from games such as blackjack, slots, roulette and poker.

The games are based largely on luck, with only a small amount of skill involved. The house always has a mathematical advantage over the players, and this is known as the house edge. The house also takes a small percentage of the money that is wagered, which is known as the rake. Casinos also give out complimentary goods and services to “good” customers, which is called comping.

Due to the large amounts of money handled within a casino, patrons may be tempted to cheat or steal. This is why most casinos spend a great deal of time and money on security. This includes video surveillance cameras located throughout the facility and catwalks that allow security personnel to look down directly, through one-way glass, at table and slot machines from above. Often, these areas are also manned by uniformed security guards. In addition, some casinos have additional security measures, such as requiring that players keep their cards visible at all times.