A casino, also known as a gaming hall or a gambling house, is a facility for players to gamble. Casinos offer shows, fine dining and a chance to celebrate wins or commiserate on losses. But casinos have a dark side as well. Casinos make billions in profits every year by providing games of chance for players. In this article we’ll look at how casinos operate, how they make money, what types of games are played there and a few things to keep in mind before you head to the tables or slot machines.
Something about gambling (perhaps the presence of large sums of money) encourages people to cheat, steal and lie in order to win. That’s why casinos spend a lot of time, effort and money on security. The modern casino is patrolled by a physical security force and has a specialized surveillance department that operates the casino’s closed circuit television system, commonly called “the eye in the sky.”
The casino makes its profit by taking a percentage of all bets made by its patrons. In the case of card games like blackjack, poker and baccarat, this is a mathematically determined advantage known as the house edge. In other games, such as roulette and craps, the casino earns a commission through the vig or rake.
In addition, the casino makes money through comps, or complimentary goods and services, offered to its most loyal patrons. These can include anything from free hotel rooms and show tickets to limo service and airline tickets.