A casino is a gambling establishment that features many different games of chance and in some cases skill. While a casino may also feature musical shows, lighted fountains, shopping centers and lavish hotel suites, the majority of its profits come from gambling. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat and other popular casino games generate the billions of dollars in revenue casinos rake in each year.
In addition to games of chance, casinos also offer poker and other card games where players play against each other. In such games the casino makes money by taking a percentage of each pot, charging an hourly fee or in some cases both. In some cases, casinos will give gamblers complimentary items or comps for their money spent on the tables. Casinos are also known to charge for drinks and food.
Due to the large amount of money that is handled within a casino, there is often the potential for both patrons and staff to cheat or steal. As such, casinos employ a variety of security measures to prevent such incidents. Security cameras located throughout the casino are one of the most basic and effective measures. In addition, casino employees are trained to spot blatant cheating methods such as palming or marking cards. Each table game has a pit boss or table manager who watches over the games with a more general view, making sure that patrons do not cheat each other or stealing chips.