A casino is an establishment for certain types of gambling. In the United States, casinos are primarily located in cities with legalized gaming, or on Native American reservations. Casinos are also found outside the United States in areas such as Mexico and South America, and are a significant source of revenue for their owners.
While lighted fountains, shopping centers and lavish hotels might attract visitors, a casino’s profits largely come from games of chance. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and craps bring in billions of dollars every year for the casinos. Each game has a built in advantage for the house, which can be small (less than two percent) or large, depending on the rules and stakes played.
Because large sums of money are handled within casinos, they must be secure. Security measures include cameras and random inspections by security personnel. Employees must be licensed and trained in the operation of the casino’s games.
In addition to securing their facilities, casinos must focus on customer service and offer perks that encourage gamblers to spend more. Known as comps, these gifts range from free rooms and meals to airline tickets and limousine service. High rollers are a major source of income for the casinos, and they are often rewarded with special treatment. Less expensive comps are given to regular patrons, who are often tipped by employees in the amount they bet. The casinos’ computerized systems tally up player spending and game preferences to provide them with benefits.