A casino is a place where people can gamble and play games of chance. It can also include other features like music, stage shows and a restaurant. But the vast majority of the profits a casino makes comes from the gambling activities itself. Slot machines, blackjack, poker and other table games are the backbone of casinos’ profits, accounting for billions in earnings every year.

There’s one certainty when you play any game at a casino: the house will always come out the winner. This is because each game has a built in advantage for the casino, known as the house edge. While it may be a small percentage, this edge adds up over the millions of bets placed by casino patrons each year. And that edge gives casinos the money to build elaborate hotels, fountains, pyramids and tower replicas of famous landmarks.

Gambling predates recorded history, with primitive protodice (cut knuckle bones) and even carved six-sided dice found in ancient archaeological sites [Source: Schwartz]. But the modern concept of a casino came about in the 16th century as an era of casino mania swept Europe. Rich Italian aristocrats would hold private parties at places called ridotti to enjoy a variety of gambling activities.

Today casinos are a lot more sophisticated than the old Italian clubs. Security starts with a well trained staff. Observant dealers can spot a wide range of cheating tactics, including palming and marking cards. Dedicated table managers and pit bosses can also detect a pattern of betting that might indicate collusion or other illegal activity.