A casino is a building that houses gambling games. It is often associated with hotels, restaurants and other tourist attractions. The word casino is also used in the names of certain types of gambling establishments, including cruise ships and land-based operations.

While musical shows, lighted fountains and lavish hotels help draw in customers, casinos would not exist without the games that allow patrons to win money. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette and other table games provide the billions of dollars in profits that casinos earn every year.

Casinos are designed to maximize profits and customer service by offering a variety of perks, or comps, to players. These include free meals, hotel rooms and show tickets. During the 1970s, Las Vegas casinos were famous for giving away travel packages and cheap buffets to encourage gamblers to stay longer and spend more.

Modern casinos use a variety of technology to keep track of players and their activities. For example, “chip tracking” systems monitor betting chips with built-in microcircuitry; electronic surveillance of roulette wheels enables the casino to quickly discover any statistical deviation from the expected results. In addition, video cameras constantly scan the casino floor and watch all changes to tables and windows.

Something about gambling seems to encourage people to cheat, steal and scam their way into a jackpot. That’s why casinos invest a great deal of time and money in security. In addition to cameras and other technological measures, most casinos enforce security through rules of conduct and behavior. For example, all players must hold their cards visible at all times during card games. Some players learn advanced strategies that can give them a slight edge over the house, such as counting cards in blackjack.