A casino (also known as a gaming house or a gambling establishment) is an establishment where people can gamble. Casinos can also have other attractions such as restaurants and hotels. There are more than 3,000 casinos worldwide.

Most casino games have some element of skill, and most have a mathematical advantage for the house. This advantage is called the house edge. In addition, most casinos take a percentage of the money bet, which is called the rake.

To prevent cheating and stealing, most casinos have several security measures in place. These measures include cameras, security guards and paper shredders. Security staff may also be able to check IDs of patrons to ensure they are of legal age. Some casinos also have an “eye in the sky” surveillance system that allows them to monitor every table, window and doorway at once.

Some casinos offer free food and drinks to keep gamblers at the tables. This can keep people gambling longer and may cause them to be intoxicated, which decreases their ability to think clearly. In addition, many casinos use chips instead of real money, which makes it less likely that a gambler will notice that they are losing.

Some casinos also reward their best customers with perks such as free hotel rooms, meals and free casino chips. These perks can be quite large and may even include private planes for high rollers. However, this type of marketing is prohibited in European countries, where casino games are not legal.