In a casino, patrons gamble cash or other paper tickets called chips on various random events or combinations of events. The most common of these events are slot machines, but casinos also offer table games like roulette, blackjack and poker, as well as sports betting and other non-gambling attractions. Casinos often have security measures in place to protect players and their assets, and most have surveillance cameras around the gambling floor.

The games offered by a casino usually have mathematically determined odds that guarantee the house a constant profit (in the form of an expected value that is uniformly negative from the player’s perspective). For those games with a skill element, such as blackjack or video poker, this advantage is known as the house edge. The house earns money in the form of a commission on bets, called the rake.

Some casinos specialize in a particular game, such as craps or roulette, while others focus on a type of entertainment, such as live theater shows or celebrity appearances. Caesars Palace, for example, has hosted the likes of Frank Sinatra, Elton John and Madonna. The casino is also famous for its Circus Maximus showroom, which opened in 1968 and was later home to long Vegas residencies by Celine Dion and other celebrities. In recent years, casinos have become increasingly sophisticated and technologically advanced, allowing their customers to enjoy more immersive and exciting experiences. These innovations have increased casino profitability and public interest in the industry as a whole.