A Casino is a gambling establishment that offers a variety of games of chance and some that require skill. It features games like craps, roulette, blackjack and video poker as well as more traditional games such as sic bo, fan-tan and pai gow. It also has dining and entertainment options.

Casinos attract customers by offering comps, or free goods and services, to those who spend the most money on games of chance. These perks can include anything from free hotel rooms and meals to tickets to shows and limo service. Most casinos base the amount of money spent by a patron on the type of game played and the stakes involved.

Some casinos make a large portion of their profits from high-stakes gamblers who place bets in the tens of thousands of dollars. These players are usually given a separate room away from the main casino floor, where the games can be more intense and the stakes higher. Casinos can be quite choosy about who they give comps to, since these players are essential to their bottom line.

Something about gambling (perhaps the presence of large sums of money) seems to encourage people to cheat, steal or scam their way into a jackpot instead of trying to win by random chance. That’s why casinos spend a lot of time, effort and money on security. Security guards keep their eyes on the tables and patrons to spot blatant cheating such as palming, marking or switching dice or cards. Pit bosses and table managers also watch over the games with a broader perspective, looking for betting patterns that might indicate cheating or suspicious behavior.