A casino is a gambling establishment with table games, slot machines and other electronic gaming devices. A casino may also offer live entertainment, such as stage shows and performances by singers and musicians. In addition, it offers a full range of dining and hotel services.

A number of different gambling games are played in casinos, including blackjack, roulette, craps and poker. Many of these games have some element of skill, but most are based solely on chance. The casino’s advantage in these games is known as the house edge, and it can be calculated for each game by examining the probability of winning and losing.

In addition to the casino’s own profit from the game’s play, casinos also earn money by charging a rake, or fee, on players who participate in card games such as poker. These fees are usually a percentage of the player’s winnings. In some instances, the house also pays out winnings to the players directly, which is known as a payout.

Casinos are often combined with hotels, resorts and restaurants, and many have been designed to resemble exotic locales such as Venice or Monte Carlo. They may also feature top-notch restaurants, spas and theaters. Due to the large amounts of currency handled by casino staff and patrons, security is a big concern. Most casinos use surveillance systems and other technological measures to prevent cheating or theft. In some cases, these measures are enough to deter most would-be thieves, though incidents of theft do occur.