A casino is a place where people can gamble by playing games of chance or skill. The games offered may include blackjack, roulette, craps and poker. Most casino games have a built in advantage for the house, which is known as the house edge. This edge can vary by game, but is usually lower than two percent. The house edge is how casinos make money from the bets of patrons. The profits from this edge are used to pay for things like hotel rooms, restaurants and stage shows.

Casinos are regulated by government agencies to ensure fairness. They are also required to provide security and emergency services to their patrons. Most casinos employ a variety of security measures, from cameras to trained personnel. Many of these measures are designed to prevent crime and cheating. For example, dealers are taught to watch for blatant cheating such as marking cards or switching dice. They are also taught to watch for betting patterns that indicate cheating by other patrons.

Another way casinos protect their patrons is by offering comps. These are free goods or services given to frequent gamblers. The amount of money a player spends determines their comp rating. Players who play large amounts of time and money at a casino are often given free hotel rooms, dinners, tickets to shows or even limousine service and airline tickets. This is because a casino wants its patrons to feel like they are getting a special experience from their gambling.