A casino, or gambling establishment, offers patrons the chance to wager money on various games of chance and skill. Musical shows, lighted fountains, lavish hotels and elaborate themes help draw in the crowds, but the billions of dollars raked in by casinos each year come from gaming machines and table games like blackjack, poker, roulette, craps and baccarat.
Although many people think of Las Vegas when they think of a casino, the city is not the only place where one can go to gamble. Many towns and cities around the world have casinos, including Atlantic City, New Jersey, Chicago, Detroit, and the Chinese Special Administrative Region of Macau.
Casinos use a variety of security measures to prevent cheating and stealing by either patrons or staff members. The most obvious are security cameras, but casinos also employ a variety of other methods to keep tabs on the money that flows through the gaming tables. Dealers watch over the games closely and can quickly spot blatantly illegal actions such as palming, marking or switching cards or dice. Pit bosses and table managers have a broader view of the casino floor and watch for patterns in betting that could signal fraud.
In addition to security, casinos also reward frequent visitors with comps, or free goods and services. The best players, known as high rollers, are given a great deal of attention, and can be offered free rooms, tickets to shows and dinners, limousine service or airline tickets.