A casino is a gambling establishment where customers place bets on games of chance or skill. Most games have an element of luck, and the house has a built-in advantage over players that can range from less than two percent to greater than 100 percent. Casinos make money by taking a commission, or rake, on the bets placed by patrons. They also earn money by offering comps to gamblers.

Many casinos have glitzy decor and bright lights to lure patrons into spending their money. They may use scented oils that waft through the ventilation systems to create a manufactured blissful experience. Casinos are designed to make people feel comfortable and euphoric, even though they know that the house always wins.

Casinos have security measures to prevent cheating and theft. They usually have a physical security force that patrols the casino and responds to calls for assistance or reports of suspicious or definite criminal activity. They also have a specialized surveillance department that operates the casino’s closed circuit television system, known as an “eye in the sky.” This allows security personnel to monitor the entire casino from a single room filled with banks of security cameras. These systems can be adjusted to focus on specific patrons or particular table games, and they are usually equipped with audio so that conversations can be heard. In addition, they are often monitored by higher-level managers to ensure that they meet company standards. These technologies have made it much harder to steal from a casino, but cheaters can still try.