A casino is a building or room where people can gamble and play games of chance. Casinos often include a wide variety of gambling activities, from slot machines to table games like blackjack and poker. They may also feature entertainment such as concerts and shows. Some casinos specialize in particular types of gaming, such as horse racing or keno.
Casinos earn money by charging a fee to patrons of the games. This charge, known as the house edge or vigorish, can be very low, less than two percent of all bets, but it adds up over the millions of bets placed by players. In addition to the house edge, many casinos make a profit from other sources such as food and drink sales, hotel rooms and live entertainment.
With such large amounts of money changing hands, casinos need to spend a lot of time and money on security measures. This includes a network of cameras, escorts and watchful employees. It is not unusual for patrons to try to cheat, steal or scam in collusion with other patrons or even on their own, and casinos must be prepared to deal with these situations. Because of the risk of theft and fraud, most casinos have strict rules against even the slightest hint of dishonesty. These rules are enforced with the help of a team of workers called pit bosses, managers and table game supervisors. They are often armed with sophisticated surveillance technology and have the authority to confiscate winnings and arrest people who violate the rules.