As with any public place where large sums of money are handled, casinos are prone to theft and cheating, either by patrons working in collusion or individually. To prevent this, casinos employ a variety of security measures, including cameras located throughout the casino that can be adjusted to focus on suspicious patrons and elaborate surveillance systems that provide a high-tech “eye in the sky” view of every table, window, doorway, and slot machine.

In addition, all gambling games must be played with the highest level of honesty and integrity. Those who demonstrate that they are serious about their game and not just in it for fun may earn comps, or free goods or services, from the casino, such as meals, hotel rooms, tickets to shows, and even limo service and airline tickets. Comps are generally awarded to those who play longer or at higher stakes, and the amount of time a player spends in the casino is also taken into account.

Casinos are designed to entice players and create a mood of excitement and luxury. They usually feature bright and sometimes gaudy floor and wall coverings that stimulate the senses and encourage gamblers to lose track of time. Red is a particularly popular color, since it’s thought to make people lose track of time more easily.

Casinos also offer a wide variety of live entertainment, ranging from the glitzy Cirque du Soleil shows to celebrity-endorsed lounge acts like Cher at Caesars Palace. The elegant spa town of Baden-Baden, Germany, was once a playground for European royalty and aristocracy, and the casino still maintains that ambiance today, with a red-and-gold poker room and dozens of blackjack and roulette tables.