A casino is a building where people can gamble and play games of chance. Casinos can be found all over the world from swanky resorts in Las Vegas to tiny pai gow parlors in New York City. Casinos usually offer a wide range of gambling options including slot machines, table games like blackjack and roulette, and poker variants. They also offer other services like floor shows and restaurants. Some even have a salon and spa.
Because large amounts of money are handled within a casino, both patrons and staff may be tempted to cheat or steal, either in collusion or independently. This is why casinos spend a lot of money on security measures.
These include cameras in the ceiling that allow security workers to watch every table, window and doorway at once. They can also be directed to focus on particular suspicious patrons. Other technology is used to supervise the actual games themselves. For example, in chip tracking, betting chips contain microcircuitry that allows them to be monitored minute by minute; roulette wheels are electronically monitored to spot statistical deviations quickly.
In addition to these technological systems, casinos use other tactics to discourage cheating and stealing. For example, they reward loyal players with free goods and services like hotel rooms, dinners, limo service and airline tickets. These perks are based on how much the player wagers and how long he or she plays. Often, these players are known as “comps.” These comps make the casino more profitable and help attract and retain customers.