A casino is a place where people play games of chance. Some of these games have an element of skill, such as blackjack, roulette and craps, but most are purely chance. The house always has an advantage in these games, which can be calculated by the mathematical expectation of winning or losing (the odds) and is known as the house edge. Some casinos also charge a commission on winning bets, called the rake. Some casinos offer complimentary items to gamblers, such as drinks and food.
Some of the world’s most famous casinos are tourist attractions in their own right, offering opulent surroundings and top-notch service. Venice’s Casino di Venezia, for example, is a beautiful building set on the Grand Canal; it has appeared in movies such as James Bond’s Golden Eye and Eugene Levy’s Once Upon a Crime.
Many casinos make their money by selling chances to win prizes such as hotel rooms, meals and free play, while others have a more commercial focus and use their facilities for events like concerts and sports league championships. Because of the large amount of currency that is handled, patrons and staff may be tempted to cheat and steal, either in collusion or independently; most casinos have security measures to prevent this. In addition to the traditional security cameras, some casinos employ technology that allows them to oversee the accuracy of bets placed minute by minute, while roulette wheels are electronically monitored to detect any statistical deviations from expected results.