A casino is a place where people can gamble. Casinos usually offer a variety of games, such as blackjack, craps, poker and slot machines. Some casinos also offer live entertainment. Casinos can be found in many countries around the world. Some are large, occupying entire city blocks and hosting thousands of tables. Others are smaller, occupying only a few rooms and serving as gathering places for locals. In either case, the primary activity is gambling.

Most casino games have a built in advantage for the house, which is sometimes called the “house edge” or “vigorish”. This advantage can be small (less than two percent), but over time it can add up to a significant amount of money for the casino. In games with a skill element, players who can eliminate this advantage are known as “advantage players”.

Some casinos, especially those in Las Vegas, promote themselves as glamorous destinations that attract celebrities and high rollers. These casinos try to lure gamblers with a variety of luxuries, including free drinks, stage shows, and even luxury hotels. Casinos can make or lose money depending on the volume of bets placed.

Security is another important part of casino operations. Casinos have a wide range of surveillance systems, from the low-tech eye in the sky to cameras that can zoom in on the faces of casino patrons to detect any suspicious reactions or betting patterns. In addition, table managers and pit bosses watch over the games with a more subtle approach, looking for any signs of cheating or underhanded tactics.