A casino is a gambling establishment that offers games of chance and, in some cases, skill. Customers gamble by placing bets on these games, and the house takes a fixed percentage of all winnings. This advantage is called the house edge. Casinos typically feature a variety of table and slot machines, as well as baccarat, roulette, and craps. They may also offer poker and other card games, and some feature restaurants.

Some casinos are very luxurious, offering opulent suites and fine dining along with the chance to win big. These casinos are often cited as the epitome of high-end gambling and travel.

Casinos are also popular entertainment venues, and some have been featured in television shows, novels, and movies. The Monte Carlo Casino, for example, has been depicted in numerous books, including Ben Mezrich’s “Busting Vegas” and the 2006 film of the same name.

Because of the large amount of money handled within a casino, both patrons and staff may be tempted to cheat or steal, either in collusion with one another or independently. For this reason, casinos employ security measures that include physical guards and specialized surveillance departments. The latter monitor games and are able to detect anomalies in the expected results. In addition, some casinos have electronic chips with built-in microcircuitry that allow them to track and oversee the exact amounts of bets minute by minute; and roulette wheels are electronically monitored to quickly discover any statistical deviations.