A casino is a gambling establishment that offers games of chance for money. It also provides entertainment such as musical shows, lighted fountains and lavish hotels. However, casinos primarily draw in customers by offering games of chance such as slot machines, blackjack, roulette and craps. These games generate the billions in profits that casino owners rake in every year.
Most casinos are located in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, but they can also be found in cities around the world. Casinos are legalized in many states of the United States and on American Indian reservations. The casino industry is regulated by government statutes and local ordinances.
Gamblers bet with tokens called chips that represent value and are generally collected from the players by a dealer. When a player wins, the chips are returned to him. The house has a mathematical advantage in all games, which can be expressed as the percentage of expected value that the casino retains. This advantage is known as the house edge. In table games such as poker, the casino makes its profit by taking a commission on each bet or by charging an hourly fee. Casinos often give out complimentary items to gamblers, a practice known as comping.
In the 21st century, casinos focus on attracting high-rollers with comps such as free hotel rooms and expensive meals. They also spend more time and money on security. The typical casino customer is a forty-six-year-old female who comes from a household with an above-average income and has more vacation time than the average American.
