A casino is a building or room in which gambling games are played. Casinos can be located in cities, states or countries and are usually open to the public. Casinos often offer a variety of gambling games, including roulette, blackjack, and poker. They also feature restaurants, bars and other entertainment options. Some casinos have exhibits that display historical artifacts and memorabilia.

Casinos make money by giving patrons a statistical advantage, called the house edge. This edge can be very small, less than two percent of the total amount of wagers made by players. This edge is what allows casinos to build extravagant hotels, fountains and replicas of famous monuments. In addition, casinos take a commission on each bet placed on table games and some video poker machines, known as the rake. This rake and the house edge allow casinos to pay their employees and cover operating costs.

Because large amounts of money are handled within a casino, both patrons and staff may be tempted to cheat or steal. This is why casinos spend a large amount of time, effort and money on security. Casinos have a variety of security measures, the most basic being surveillance cameras.

Many casinos use bright and sometimes gaudy floor and wall coverings to stimulate and cheer the patrons. They also discourage patrons from wearing watches because they want them to lose track of time and continue playing for as long as possible. In fact, some casinos ban the wearing of watches entirely on the casino floor.