A Casino is a building in which people can gamble and play games of chance. Unlike your grandmother’s weekend bus trips to the nearest town for bingo, these gambling establishments usually offer a wide variety of gaming choices under one roof and are licensed to operate within the local community. Although gambling in some form certainly predates the 16th century, casinos as we know them today did not emerge until the roaring 1920s. Casinos became more sophisticated as real estate investors and hotel chains realized that they could make huge profits by attracting the wealthy clientele who flocked to Las Vegas for its luxurious entertainment and glamorous gambling opportunities.

A casino’s revenue depends on the number of patrons it attracts, and its staff is trained to keep those numbers high by offering comps – free items like drinks and shows. Because of the large amounts of money handled inside, both patrons and employees may be tempted to cheat or steal, either in collusion or independently. For this reason, modern casinos are equipped with a combination of physical security and specialized surveillance departments that monitor the casino for signs of suspicious or criminal activity.

Casinos have a built-in advantage in every game that they offer, and it is very rare for a patron to win more than the house expects to lose. This mathematical advantage is known as the “house edge,” and it is what keeps casinos profitable. Despite this, they still offer players the opportunity to enjoy some of the most exciting casino gaming experiences around.