The Bellagio in Las Vegas is famous for its fountain show, and the Casino de Monte-Carlo has been immortalized in countless movies. But casinos aren’t all about glamorous glitz and flash; the best casinos in the world also offer top-notch hotels, spas and restaurants, along with live entertainment.

The modern casino is like an indoor amusement park for adults, with a vast majority of the entertainment (and profits for its owner) coming from gambling. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps and other games provide the billions in profits that fuel casinos worldwide.

Casinos make money by charging a “vig” or a “rake,” which is the percentage of each bet that the casino takes. In some cases, this edge can be very small (under two percent), but it’s enough to earn the casinos enough revenue to finance their elaborate hotels, fountains and towers, as well as their dazzling stage shows and dramatic scenery.

There are a number of different ways that gamblers can cheat or steal in a casino, whether in collusion with each other or independently. To help prevent these issues, most casinos employ a number of security measures. Video cameras, for example, are placed throughout a casino to monitor its patrons and catch any suspicious activities.

In addition, casino employees follow strict rules of etiquette when dealing with players and enforce these rules through rules and training. The result is that even the most seasoned gamblers have a hard time bending the rules of a casino.