A Casino is a building where people can play games of chance for money. It’s a big business and a major tourist attraction, especially in Las Vegas and Atlantic City. But gambling is only one part of casinos: they also offer a variety of other services such as hotels, restaurants, conventions and entertainment.

Gambling in some form has been around almost as long as humans have. From Ancient Mesopotamia and Greece to Napoleon’s France and Elizabethan England, gambling has been a popular pastime in many societies. Casinos are the modern day equivalent, with slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps and keno making up the billions of dollars in profits that casinos rake in every year.

Something about casinos seems to encourage people to cheat and steal, either in collusion or on their own. That’s why most casinos spend a lot of time and money on security measures. Besides cameras, security personnel constantly watch patrons to spot suspicious activity. They know the patterns of game play and can usually spot blatant cheats such as palming, marking or switching cards.

Most casinos also give out comps to their “good” players, a practice that’s common in many other types of businesses. These can include free hotel rooms, meals, tickets to shows or even airline or limo service if you’re a high roller. Ask a casino employee or someone at the information desk for details.