A casino is an establishment for certain types of gambling. It is often combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops and/or other tourist attractions. The term may also refer to a specific building or room within a hotel/casino where gambling takes place.

Casinos earn money from the statistical advantage they give themselves on each bet placed by patrons. This edge is usually lower than two percent, but over millions of bets it adds up. Some casinos also charge players a commission, known as the rake, on some games, such as poker and video poker.

On the casino floor, employees constantly keep their eyes on gamblers to make sure that everything goes as planned. Some employees have specialized training, such as pit bosses and table managers who are skilled at spotting cheating by counting cards or “palming” (a practice where a gambler marks his cards). Elaborate surveillance systems provide a high-tech eye-in-the-sky, with cameras watching every table, window and doorway, and can be adjusted to focus on suspicious patrons.

To keep players in the mood to bet, casinos design their floors to stimulate and cheer them up. They use bright colors, especially red, to make players feel more energized and excited. They have no clocks on the casino floor because they want players to lose track of time and stay longer, so they can win more money. They also avoid putting anything on the table, like coins or other objects, that might cause a player to accidentally hit them during a deal.