A casino is a building that houses gambling games. While lighted fountains, musical shows and luxurious hotels help attract customers, casinos would not exist without games of chance like slot machines, roulette, craps and blackjack that provide billions in profits every year.

Unlike some games with an element of skill, most casino games have built-in odds that ensure the house has a profit over the players, a advantage known as the edge or vig. Casinos compensate for this by taking a commission from gamblers, which is called a rake in poker, and as a percentage of total bets in other games like video poker or table games. The vig is also what allows casinos to give gamblers comps (free items) or even free rooms and meals.

Casinos can be found in cities around the world, from Macau to Baden-Baden, Germany. One of the most famous is the Hotel Lisboa in Macau, which has gone “all-in” on gaming and features a casino topped by a massive LED dome that is visible from miles away. It is a defining feature of the city skyline and is home to a restaurant that has earned three Michelin stars for 14 straight years and the Wine Spectator Grand Award for its 17,000-label wine list.

Despite the glamour and flash of these places, there is a darker side to casinos. Something about the casino atmosphere encourages people to cheat, steal and scam their way into a jackpot. This is why casinos spend so much time, effort and money on security.