Casino (as in gambling establishment) is a place where people pay money to gamble on various games of chance. The most popular casino games are blackjack, roulette, poker and slots. In addition to the games, casinos offer other services such as hotel rooms, dining and entertainment. Most casinos have security measures in place to protect both patrons and employees.
In the United States, casinos are regulated by state and local laws. The largest concentration of casinos is in Las Vegas, followed by Atlantic City and Chicago. Casinos are often built around a specific theme and feature elaborate decorations. They may also have one or more towers, fountains and replicas of famous buildings. The games themselves are played using chips that represent value rather than real money.
Because they are places where large amounts of money are handled, casinos can be tempting to cheat and steal. These activities are discouraged by security measures, which vary by casino. For example, some casinos use cameras to monitor every table, window and door. Others have catwalks that allow surveillance personnel to look down on the games from above.
In the twentieth century, casinos became more choosy about their patrons. They sought high rollers who would gamble for tens of thousands of dollars at a time. These high-stakes gamblers receive “comps” — free goods or services — such as luxury suites, meals, tickets to shows, and even limo service and airline tickets. Comps are usually calculated based on the amount of money a gambler spends at the casino, and not the actual winnings.