A casino is a building that serves as an entertainment venue for people who like to gamble. It might feature musical shows, lighted fountains, shops and elaborate themes, but it would not exist without the games of chance that provide the billions in profits that casinos rake in each year. This article will look at the history of gambling, some of the most popular casino games, and how they work.

Casinos make money by charging a fee to patrons who play their games. That fee is called a vig or rake and is generally equal to a percentage of the total amount wagered on a game. A small number of casinos also offer free goods or services to some players, a practice known as comping. These might include food, hotel rooms, show tickets or limo service.

While something about the large amounts of money handled within casinos encourages cheating, stealing and other illegal activities (in collusion or independently), most casinos have significant security measures to prevent these from occurring. The most basic of these is the use of cameras throughout the casino.

Casinos have dramatically increased their use of technology during the 1990s. For example, chips have built-in microcircuitry that allows casinos to monitor the exact amounts wagered minute by minute and to instantly detect any statistical deviation from expected results. Roulette wheels are monitored electronically to spot any mechanical irregularities quickly. And slot machines are regulated by computer systems that track their speed, payouts and other data to ensure fairness.