Casino (pronounced ka-see-ahn) is a place where people gamble by playing games of chance. This includes roulette, baccarat, blackjack, poker and slot machines.

Casinos make money by having an advantage over the customers, called a house edge. This edge is usually less than two percent.

A casino also takes a percentage of the amount of money that is paid out as winnings. This is called a rake and can vary depending on the game.

Security measures in casinos are intended to prevent theft and cheating by staff or patrons. These include elaborate surveillance systems. CCTV cameras watch every table, change window and doorways and are able to focus on suspicious people or events.

The most common games played in casinos are baccarat, roulette and craps. In the United States, roulette is the principal gambling game, while baccarat is the primary one in Europe.

These games are based on chance, but some have an element of skill. The odds of winning are mathematically determined to ensure that the house has a statistical edge over the players.

A slot machine is an economic mainstay of casinos, as it generates high volume play and rapid payouts. It is the largest single income source for casinos in America. In addition to slots, many casinos offer video poker machines. A number of casinos have their own poker rooms, and most have regular poker tournaments. In these cases, the casino takes a percentage of the winnings as a fee for holding the tables.