A casino is a place where people play a variety of games of chance, most of them involving gambling. Modern casinos add a host of extras to attract customers, including restaurants, free drinks and stage shows, but they would not exist without the games themselves. The most popular of these games include slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps and baccarat. These games, along with poker and other card games, are the primary source of billions of dollars in profits raked in by casinos every year.

While many people view casinos as places where the odds are stacked against them, there is an alternative point of view. For those who understand math and game theory, it is possible to beat the casino. In fact, for years mathematically inclined physicists have been trying to exploit the rigged nature of casino games by harnessing their knowledge of probability and game theory to make money.

While the vast majority of casino profits come from gambling, there are other sources as well. Musical shows, lighted fountains, shopping centers and lavish hotels help draw visitors in. However, the bottom line is that casinos are gambling houses and they operate on a set of rules designed to slowly bleed their patrons of their cash. This is why some people are calling for a wholesale rethinking of the way casinos do business and for an end to the lucrative tax breaks they receive.