A casino is a place where gambling activities take place. It may be part of a resort, hotel, cruise ship, or other tourist attraction. Modern casinos are often upscale, offering a range of luxury games and services. They also feature high-end restaurants and theaters. Casinos are also known for their elaborate security systems.

A casino’s security begins with a physical force that patrols the premises and investigates reports of suspicious or definite criminal activity. A separate specialized department operates the casino’s closed circuit television system, a high-tech eye-in-the-sky that can watch every table and change window at once. This allows security people to adjust cameras to focus on a specific patron or activity.

There are also more subtle methods of securing a casino. Dealers at the table games keep their eyes peeled for blatant cheating by players, and casino managers can spot betting patterns that indicate a player is attempting to steal chips.

Casinos earn their money by taking a small percentage of all bets placed by patrons. This profit margin, sometimes known as the house edge, is built into every game offered. This is what allows the casino to build its extravagant hotels, fountains and towering pyramids.

Gambling is part of human culture, and has been for millennia. Archeological evidence of dice-rolling dates back to 2300 BC, while card-playing first appeared in the 1400s. However, gambling is a risky and addictive activity. Studies show that compulsive gambling deprives a community of vital spending, and the cost of treating problem gamblers offsets any economic benefits from casino revenues.