A casino is a building that houses gambling games. Modern casinos have many features that help draw in gamblers, such as musical shows, lighted fountains and shopping centers. But the vast majority of a casino’s profits come from its games of chance. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette, baccarat and other games are responsible for the billions of dollars in profits raked in by casinos each year.

Regardless of their popularity, all casino games have a built in advantage for the house. This advantage, which is based on mathematical odds, can vary from game to game but is usually lower than two percent. The house edge is also known as vigorish, rake or vig. It helps the casino offset losses from other games and pay out winnings.

Casinos also have security measures in place to prevent cheating and stealing, either between patrons or by staff members. This includes a high-tech “eye-in-the-sky” system that watches every table, window and doorway. Security workers in a separate room control the cameras and can adjust them to focus on certain suspicious patrons. Casino employees also watch over their own tables and keep an eye out for blatant cheating, such as palming dice or marking cards.

Some people who are addicted to gambling generate a disproportionately large share of casino profits, and some critics say that this drain on local resources negates any economic benefits the casinos may bring. Even so, studies have found that casino revenue does increase tourism in the surrounding area.