A casino is a facility for certain types of gambling. The modern casino is like an indoor amusement park for adults, with the vast majority of its entertainment coming from gambling, namely slot machines, black jack, roulette, craps, and keno. These games provide the billions of dollars in profit raked in by casinos every year.
Because of the large amounts of money handled within a casino, staff and patrons may be tempted to cheat or steal, either in collusion or independently. As a result, many casinos have security measures in place to prevent these activities. Surveillance cameras are one of the most common, and they can be positioned to cover all areas of the casino floor. Some casinos also have catwalks that allow security personnel to look down, through one-way glass, on the game tables and slots.
Because of the high probabilities of losing, it is rare for a gambler to walk away from a casino with more than they came in with. Consequently, casinos have built-in advantages that ensure they will always make a profit. This advantage, which is known as the house edge, is built into the rules of each game. This guarantees that the house will win the game in the long run, even if only a small percentage of players lose their money. The house edge is a necessary part of the casino business model and makes it possible for casinos to operate, pay their employees, and provide their customers with services.