A casino is a room or building in which gambling games are played. These include card games, table games, and slot machines. Some casinos also offer non-gambling games and other entertainment like shows and restaurants. Some of the biggest and best casinos in the world are located in Las Vegas, where they’re known for their high-end hotels and entertainment options. The Bellagio, for example, has a fountain show that’s famous worldwide and even made its way into the movie Ocean’s 11. However, there are casinos all over the world, including those in Asia and Europe.
Security at a casino starts on the floor, where employees keep an eye on everyone’s betting habits and movements to look for cheating. There are also more subtle methods: chips with built-in microcircuitry enable casinos to monitor how much money is being wagered minute-by-minute, while roulette wheels are electronically monitored for statistical deviations that could indicate tampering.
Casinos make their money by charging players a fee to play the games, which they call “vig.” The vig is a percentage of the house’s profit that is passed on to the player. The higher the vig, the more money the casino makes. Besides the fees, players can also receive comps, or free goods and services, from the casino, depending on how much they spend and what stakes they’re playing at. This can include things like free hotel rooms, meals, tickets to shows and even limo service and airline tickets.
