A casino is a facility for certain types of gambling. The most common games played in casinos are slot machines, table games and video poker. In addition to the games themselves, casinos have many amenities intended to attract gamblers, such as restaurants, hotels, shopping centers, and entertainment venues.
While musical shows, lighted fountains and elaborate themes help draw in customers, the bulk of a casino’s profits come from gambling. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps, keno and other games of chance account for the billions in profits that American casinos rake in every year.
Because of the large amount of money handled within a casino, both patrons and staff may be tempted to cheat or steal, either in collusion with each other or independently; security measures are therefore crucial. Casinos typically employ a variety of tools to ensure fairness and prevent these problems, including cameras throughout the facility, manned security patrols, and sophisticated electronic systems that supervise tables.
Because casino games generally have mathematically determined odds, the house has a statistical advantage over players, even in games of skill. To offset this, casinos often offer gamblers complimentary items or comps. For high rollers, these can be worth tens of thousands of dollars. For example, some casinos allow gamblers to use a special room for their personal gaming, and give them free meals, transportation and luxury suites. In addition, they often receive a reduced rate on hotel rooms and show tickets.