A casino is a place where people can play gambling games. These are usually located near or combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shopping and cruise ships.

Casinos make money through a small statistical advantage, known as the “vig,” or the “rake.” This edge is earned over time and the millions of bets placed by casino patrons.

The most popular games are slot machines, blackjack, roulette and craps. They offer a predictable long-term advantage to the casino, and give players the possibility of a short-term gain that can be large.

They also provide a fun and social atmosphere to gamblers, with free food, drinks and music. These incentives keep gamblers in the casino for long periods of time and prevent them from leaving to find better entertainment.

Security is a big concern at casinos because of the amount of money that passes through them and the potential for fraud, crime or mob interference. This is where elaborate surveillance systems come in. Cameras watch every table and doorway; they can be adjusted to focus on suspicious patrons, or even changed to record them if necessary.

Elaborate security is also designed to detect any ill-intentioned behavior, such as cheating and theft. This is why many casinos require that patrons use chips, rather than real cash, to play their favorite games.

These measures, along with federal crackdowns, have kept the casino industry in check for years. It is now dominated by regulated, legitimate businesses with deep pockets and little interest in taking part in the Mafia’s dirty business of illegal gambling.