What is a Casino?

A casino is an establishment for social amusements and games of chance. It may also contain a hotel and restaurants, and is designed around noise, light, and excitement. Merriam-Webster defines it as “a building or room used for gambling; a place equipped with devices for playing various games of chance.” It is also sometimes called a gaming house, a gaming den, or a gambling hall.

While musical shows, lighted fountains and shopping centers all help to lure visitors, casinos would not exist without the millions of dollars that people wager on games of chance. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat, and other casino games provide the billions of dollars in profits raked in by U.S. casinos each year for the companies, investors, and Native American tribes that own them.

Casinos often focus on customer service, providing perks that encourage gamblers to spend more time and money there. These include food and drink specials and comps. Casinos that offer free items, such as drinks, meals, hotel rooms, show tickets, and limo service for big bettors are known as comping casinos. During the 1970s Las Vegas casinos were famous for giving away deeply discounted travel packages, cheap buffets, and free show tickets in order to maximize the volume of people coming and staying there.

Casinos spend large amounts of money on security. They employ many security officers and use a variety of surveillance technologies to keep gamblers safe. If you have a question about casino security ask a casino employee. They have a wealth of knowledge and may be willing to share it for a good tip.