A casino is a place where games of chance are played and wagering money is the primary activity. Musical shows, lighted fountains and fancy hotels help attract patrons but it is the gambling that brings in billions of dollars each year for casinos. Slot machines, blackjack, poker, roulette, craps and keno are among the most popular games.

Casinos have to be very careful about theft and cheating. They often have a number of people in place to watch over the tables and make sure nothing goes wrong. They also keep close tabs on the money being wagered. This is because the slim margins on many casino games mean that any loss will take away a large percentage of the profits. The money being bet is usually counted in a room that is watched by security cameras and microphones. It is then bundled and ready to be picked up by an armored car for deposit in the casino’s bank account.

Casinos have a long history. In the beginning, they were places where organized crime figures would meet to talk about extortion, racketeering and other illegal activities. In the early 1950s, the mob began to invest in Las Vegas casinos. It was a way for them to bring in outside cash and take control of an industry that was viewed with suspicion by legitimate businessmen.