A casino is a gambling establishment where patrons gamble by playing games of chance, sometimes with skill. The casino industry draws billions in profits from its customers each year. The modern casino is like an indoor amusement park, with music shows, lighted fountains, elaborate hotels and dramatic scenery to entice its visitors, but the vast majority of profits come from games of chance such as slot machines, craps, roulette, blackjack and baccarat.
The games of chance in a casino are run by computer programs designed to produce statistical deviations that profit the house. The mathematically determined house edge for each game can be as low as two percent, but over time it adds up to a substantial amount of money. This advantage is known as the vig or rake and is the source of the casino’s profits. In a game such as poker where players play against each other, the casino makes its money by taking a percentage of the pot or charging an hourly fee.
Due to the large amounts of cash that are handled in casinos, both patrons and staff may be tempted to cheat or steal either in collusion or independently. The security measures employed by most casinos include a combination of surveillance cameras and random searches of patrons.
Until the 1970s, casino gambling was limited to Atlantic City and a few locations on American Indian reservations that did not have state antigambling laws. However, with the advent of Las Vegas-style casinos and the growth in Native American gaming, more casino gambling opportunities have been available.