A casino is a place where people play games of chance for money. A casino typically adds a host of other attractions to attract gamblers, such as restaurants, free drinks and stage shows. However, there have been less lavish places that house gambling activities and can still be called casinos.

The casino industry is a very profitable one. Every game of chance has a built in advantage for the house, which results in a net profit from the millions of bets placed by patrons each year. This edge is very small, often lower than two percent; but it amounts to a lot of money over time. Casinos can afford to offer big bettors extravagant inducements, such as free spectacular entertainment and transportation, and elegant living quarters.

Casinos have a number of security measures in place to prevent cheating and stealing, either by patrons or staff members. The most basic measure is a network of cameras throughout the casino. Many casinos also employ pit bosses and table managers who are trained to spot blatant cheating, such as marking or switching cards or dice.

In addition to focusing on customer service, casinos try to lure large bettors with comps (free goods or services). Casinos give these inducements based on the amount of money a player spends at their establishments. For example, a person who is a “big spender” at a Las Vegas casino can receive free rooms, meals, tickets to shows and even limo or airplane service.