A casino is a place where gambling games are played. It is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. In addition to a wide variety of gambling games such as roulette, poker, craps and slot machines the casino offers live entertainment, restaurants and hotels. Some casinos have a unique theme and architecture and are located near other tourist attractions such as beaches or ski resorts.

Modern casinos are a bit like an indoor amusement park for adults. They offer a wide variety of entertainment including musical shows, lighted fountains and shopping centers. But the vast majority of the billions in profits raked in by casinos each year comes from games of chance such as blackjack, poker and slots.

Something about the casino environment encourages people to cheat and steal, which is why casinos spend a lot of money on security. Besides armed security guards and video cameras, casinos use technology to monitor their games. For example, casino chips have built-in microcircuitry that allows them to be tracked minute by minute; and roulette wheels are electronically monitored to discover any statistical deviation from their expected values.

Casinos also reward their best players with free hotel rooms, meals and tickets to shows. These are called comps. The amount of time and money a player invests in the casino is factored into his or her comp rating. High rollers can even get limo service and airline tickets for free.