A casino is an establishment for certain types of gambling. It may be a standalone building or a part of a hotel/resort, restaurant, retail shop or cruise ship. In addition to gambling, a casino may offer entertainment, such as live shows and concerts.
Although musical shows, lighted fountains and shopping centers all help draw people to casinos, the vast majority of their profits (and fun) comes from games of chance. Slot machines, poker, blackjack, roulette and craps all contribute to the billions of dollars in profits raked in by casinos each year.
While most of these games appear in casinos worldwide, there are some significant differences in their history and rules. For example, American casinos generally don’t offer far Eastern games such as sic bo, fan-tan and pai gow. In contrast, European casinos are famous for their elaborate games of chance.
Casinos often have a high degree of security because large amounts of money are involved. Dealers keep a close eye on their tables, watching for blatant cheating techniques such as palming or marking cards. Table managers and pit bosses have a broader view of the game, noting betting patterns that might indicate cheating.
Another important factor in casino security is the use of comps, or free goods and services offered to high rollers or frequent patrons. These can include free shows, dinners and hotel rooms. In general, comps are given out based on the amount of time and money a patron spends at the casino.