A casino is an establishment for gambling. The most popular games are card games, like poker and blackjack. There are also dice games such as craps and roulette. The casino business is highly profitable, generating billions of dollars in revenue each year. Casinos are often built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops and other tourist attractions. Security is a top concern for casinos, because large amounts of money are handled within them. Several security measures are used to prevent patrons from cheating or stealing, either in collusion with each other or on their own. These measures include cameras and other technological equipment, as well as rules regulating player behavior.

Casinos make most of their money from slot machines and other games of chance. Although they offer other entertainment, such as musical shows and lighted fountains, the vast majority of their revenue is from gaming. Casino games of chance have a built in mathematical advantage for the casino, which can be small but adds up over time. This edge, known as the house edge or vigorish, provides enough income to fund lavish hotel rooms and other amenities.

In the past, casinos were largely mob run, and organized crime figures had a great deal of financial interest in them. These mobsters funded the development of Las Vegas and other casinos in the 1950s, but they were never fully satisfied with gambling’s seamy image. They often took sole or partial ownership of some casinos and exercised considerable control over others. Today, casino owners are more choosy about their clientele and tend to focus on the high rollers. These big bettors are offered free rooms, food, drinks and even limo service and airline tickets in exchange for their substantial wagers.