The casino, or , is a type of public place where people can play games of chance for money. Casinos typically include restaurants, free drinks, stage shows and other luxuries to attract patrons. The profits from these activities provide the revenue for the casinos, which can be used to pay staff and finance construction of lavish hotels, fountains and replicas of landmarks.

The majority of the income a casino earns comes from gambling, which is why it’s often referred to as a “gambling establishment.” Many games are played at casinos including roulette, blackjack, craps, and baccarat. Each game has a built in advantage for the house, which can be as low as two percent. This edge, accumulated over millions of bets, allows the casino to profit from the activity.

Because large amounts of money are handled within casinos, both patrons and employees may be tempted to cheat or steal. Because of this, casinos employ a variety of security measures. These range from cameras to rules governing behavior. For example, the use of sunglasses at table games is prohibited.

Some casinos also offer complimentary services to certain players, known as comps. These can include free hotel rooms, meals, show tickets or even airline seats for high rollers. These services are usually based on the amount of time and money a player spends at a casino. This type of marketing strategy has proven effective in attracting new customers and keeping current ones.