A casino is a gambling establishment offering various games of chance and in some cases skill. Players place cash or casino chips in the games and win or lose depending on the results of the random number generator (RNG) and other factors. Some casinos also offer a variety of table games and video poker machines. The house always has a mathematically determined advantage over the players, known as the house edge or vigorish. Players who know how to eliminate the house edge are referred to as advantage players.

Casinos have been popular places for people to gather and gamble since the nineteenth century. Many of the early casinos were founded in Europe, including the famed Monte Carlo casino in Monaco, which was made famous by the Ocean’s 11 movie. Casinos have also become a popular tourist attraction for people from around the world who want to experience that thrill that comes with winning big money at the casino.

Most casinos have a high level of security to protect both patrons and assets. This may include physical security forces patrolling the premises and a specialized surveillance department that monitors closed circuit television. In addition to this, most casinos have rules of conduct and behavior that deter cheating or stealing by either patrons or staff members. The large amounts of money handled by casinos can be a magnet for criminals who are looking to take advantage of the system and steal from the casinos.