A casino is a gambling establishment offering patrons the opportunity to gamble and win money by chance. The games offered include slot machines, poker, blackjack, roulette and more. Casinos also feature restaurants, retail shopping and hotels. Some casinos are themed with exotic locations such as ancient Egypt, Las Vegas and even pirate ships.

Although elaborate hotel suites, musical shows and lighted fountains help to draw in customers, most of the billions of dollars that casinos rake in each year come from the games of chance. Games such as blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat and keno are the foundation of casinos’ profits.

To maximize profits, most casinos focus on big bettors known as “high rollers.” High rollers play in special rooms away from the main floor where their stakes can reach tens of thousands of dollars. In return, the casinos reward them with lavish comps such as free shows, hotel rooms and limo service.

Security is another top priority for the casinos. They hire people to watch over the gaming tables and slot machines, and they use cameras and other technological tools to monitor activity. They also enforce rules about how players should act at the table and the location of their hands.

Because so much money is handled within a casino, staff and patrons may be tempted to cheat or steal. The majority of casinos have security measures in place to deter this, including one-way mirrors and catwalks that allow security personnel to look directly down on the games from above.