A casino, also known as a gaming house, is a place where a variety of gambling activities take place. Casinos are often combined with hotels, restaurants, shopping, cruise ships and other tourist attractions.

There have been less extravagant places that house gambling activities and have been called casinos, but the typical modern casino adds a host of luxuries to encourage and reward gamblers. These perks can include free hotel rooms, discounted or comped meals, discounted show tickets and other gifts. Casinos also focus on customer service to maximize the number of people they can attract and keep.

Casinos make money by taking a percentage of each bet placed on their machines. This is a significant percentage, and it gives them enough money to decorate with fountains, towers and replicas of famous landmarks. Casinos also earn money by offering table games and video poker.

Security is a key element of any casino. Dealers are heavily focused on their game and can easily spot blatant cheating like palming or marking cards. Pit bosses and table managers have a broader view of the tables and can quickly notice patterns in betting that might signal cheating.

Elaborate surveillance systems have also become common in casinos. Cameras in the ceiling can watch every table, window and doorway, and they can be adjusted to zoom in on suspicious patrons. In some casinos, electronic systems track betting chips and roulette wheels minute by minute to discover any statistical deviations.