A casino, or gaming house, is an establishment for gambling. It can be a large hotel and resort with a variety of attractions, restaurants and shops or a small building where people can play games like blackjack, roulette, poker, craps and keno. In the United States, casinos are usually located in cities with a tourist attraction, such as Las Vegas or Atlantic City, or on Native American reservations. There are also many casinos in the United States that are not affiliated with a particular city or region.
Casinos make billions of dollars each year for their owners, investors and the companies that run them. They also bring in money for local governments through taxes and fees. While lighted fountains, musical shows and shopping centers draw in the crowds, it is the games of chance that give casinos their reputation for fun. Slot machines, table games and the like are what make up the bulk of the billions that casinos rake in each year.
While there is a significant element of luck in any game, casinos spend a great deal of time and money on security to ensure that the games are fair. This begins on the casino floor, where employees keep a close eye on patrons and look for blatant cheating or stealing. In addition, casino employees follow established routines and patterns, so that any deviation from the expected is easy to spot. As part of this effort, most casinos offer gamblers comps (free items) that can be redeemed for food, drinks and show tickets. These incentives are aimed at getting gamblers to spend more money on the games.