A casino (also known as a gambling house, a gaming hall or a club) is an establishment that offers various types of gambling. The largest casinos can have thousands of slot machines and hundreds of tables for other games, along with restaurants, bars and shopping areas. There is often live entertainment at a casino, such as stand-up comedy or concerts. Casinos are located in cities around the world, with the most famous ones being located in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Chicago.
Casinos make money by charging patrons a “vig” or a “rake,” which is a percentage of their bets. This advantage can be as low as two percent, but over the millions of bets placed every year it adds up. This allows casinos to build elaborate hotels, fountains, pyramids and towers that rival any tourist attraction, and to sponsor sports teams, entertainers and celebrities.
Casinos also take a variety of measures to prevent cheating and theft by both patrons and employees. Security cameras are a standard feature, but more subtle methods are in use as well. For example, the expected patterns of behavior at a table game such as blackjack or roulette are monitored closely to detect any deviation from protocol. Also, many casinos offer comps to big spenders; these can include free hotel rooms, meals and show tickets. Despite these measures, cheating and theft do occur in casinos. In the past, mobster involvement in a casino was common, but new owners with deep pockets such as real estate developers and hotel chains have bought out the old guard and now run their casinos without mafia interference.