A casino is a place that houses gambling games and often adds restaurants, stage shows and dramatic scenery. While a casino might offer all these amenities to attract customers, it is the games that generate the billions in profits casinos rake in every year. The most popular casino games include blackjack, roulette, craps, poker and slot machines. Each of these games has a built-in advantage for the house that can be less than two percent. These advantages, known as the vig or rake, allow casinos to pay out winning bets while taking in losing ones.
Casinos also focus on customer service by offering perks to big spenders, known as comps. These may be free hotel rooms, meals, tickets to shows or even limo service and airline tickets. The perks are based on how much time and money a gambler spends at the casino. The perks are calculated using a patron’s card that is swiped before each game. The card tracks a player’s gaming activity and allows the casino to build a database of player habits.
While the casino industry might seem glamorous, it has a dark side. It is easy for casino staff and patrons to cheat and steal, whether in collusion or individually. This is why most casinos have security measures in place to prevent this from happening. Casino security can range from surveillance cameras to the specialized knowledge of casino workers who recognize patterns in game play.