A casino is a place where gambling games are played. Modern casinos offer a variety of games and are designed to appeal to many types of players. They often feature restaurants, free drinks, stage shows and dramatic scenery. While casino gambling is largely based on chance, some skill is involved in many games. Casinos are regulated by government agencies and may offer comps (gifts) to regular players.
In the United States, Las Vegas is known for its array of casinos, but other cities have also built them. In the 1980s, Atlantic City began to lure gamblers away from Nevada, and other states legalized casinos on their Native American reservations.
Many casino gamblers are wealthy people, and some casinos specialize in offering a luxurious experience. These casinos often have catwalks in the ceiling, allowing surveillance personnel to look directly down on patrons through one-way glass. These casinos usually earn money from the players through a percentage of their wagers, called a rake. In addition, some casinos allow patrons to play against each other, earning a profit from each pot or a flat hourly fee for each table.
Because of the large amounts of money handled within a casino, it is common for employees and patrons to try to cheat, steal or scam each other. This is why casinos invest so much time and money into security. Due to this, casino staff are trained to spot potential problems and take steps to prevent them from occurring.