A casino is a gambling establishment where patrons place wagers on games of chance and in some cases skill. Most casinos have mathematically determined odds that give the house an advantage over the players, a benefit known as the house edge. Casinos typically take a percentage of the money wagered, called the vig or rake. Casinos also earn money by selling items to patrons, such as food and drink.

A casino can be large or small. It may feature slot machines, table games, or both. Some casinos are in luxurious resorts, while others are in small towns or even on cruise ships. Casinos are widely available in the United States and many countries around the world. Some have a reputation for being glamorous and high-class, while others are known for their high-stakes games and big jackpots.

During the mobster era, organized crime groups controlled many casinos. But as the casinos grew in popularity, real estate developers and hotel chains bought out the gangsters and gained control of the operations. Today’s casinos are generally free from Mafia interference, thanks to federal regulations and the threat of losing a gaming license at even the faintest hint of criminal activity. A casino can have a number of security measures, including a uniformed police force and surveillance cameras. They usually require patrons to gamble with chips instead of cash, which makes it easier to track bets and to spot cheating (e.g., palming a card or marking dice). Video surveillance allows managers to watch the entire floor from a room filled with banked security monitors.