A casino is a place where gambling is legal and where people can gather to gamble, eat, drink and watch stage entertainment. Casinos are often built near or combined with hotels, restaurants and other tourist attractions. Some casinos are operated by local governments, while others are owned and run by private companies or Native American tribes.
Since the beginning of time, humans have been drawn to games of chance. Casinos are one of the most popular forms of gambling, with billions of dollars passing through their doors each year. They are a major source of revenue for private companies, investors and even some state and city governments.
Because casinos handle such large amounts of money there is a constant concern for fraud. Patrons and employees may be tempted to cheat or steal in collusion or on their own. Therefore, casinos spend a lot of money and effort on security. Cameras are everywhere, the count room is constantly monitored by microphones and employees will bundle cash as it’s brought in to make sure it’s not being stolen or tampered with.
Casinos also try to keep their patrons in the building by extending what are called “comps.” These are complimentary things like free hotel rooms, meals, drinks and even casino chips. The idea is to make you feel like you are getting a good value for your money and thus encourage you to keep playing. One of the best examples of this is the story of the Australian billionaire Kerry Packard who was up several million dollars and was trying to leave Las Vegas on his way home when the terrorist attacks shut down flights and he ended up losing it all.