A casino is a place where people gamble on games of chance and in some cases with an element of skill. Craps, roulette, blackjack, and poker are some of the most popular casino games. The house edge is a constant for these games, but casinos try to reduce it with other measures. For example, some casinos charge poker players a “rake” that is a small percentage of the pot that they take.

Because of the large amount of money handled within a casino, both patrons and staff may be tempted to cheat or steal. To counter this, most casinos have elaborate security measures. These range from a physical security force that patrols the premises, to a specialized surveillance department (sometimes called an “eye-in-the-sky” system).

The use of technology in casinos has increased dramatically during the 1990s. For example, electronic betting chips are wired to enable the casinos to oversee exactly how much is wagered minute-by-minute, and to quickly discover any statistical deviations. Roulette wheels and dice are electronically monitored routinely to detect any mechanical anomalies.

Casinos also make sure that their employees don’t steal by requiring them to keep their gambling winnings on their person. They also have rules about how much a patron can wager in a single game, and they limit the size of bets. The best way to play in a casino is to start with a fixed amount of money you are willing to lose, and stick to it.