A casino, also known as a gambling house or a gaming house, is an establishment for gambling. Casinos offer a variety of gambling activities, including poker, table games, and slot machines. Some casinos also feature restaurants and bars, and some are associated with luxury hotels.
There are some 51 million people-about a quarter of all adults over 21 in the United States-who visited a casino in 2002. Often, top casinos attract tourists and celebrities, who are willing to pay more than the average punter to play in these places. The elegant spa town of Baden-Baden, for example, first opened its doors to European royalty and aristocracy 150 years ago. Today, its casino is considered the most beautiful in the world.
To encourage gamblers to spend more money, casinos often give them free goods or services, called comps. In the 1970s, Las Vegas casinos gave away everything from deeply discounted travel packages to free buffet food and show tickets. Today, most casinos give comps to “good” players-those who spend more than the average amount playing table games and slots. Some even give limo service and airline tickets to big spenders.
Casinos are managed like any other business, and they must deal with the same financial concerns as other businesses. But they also have additional challenges, such as a need to keep patrons entertained, well fed, and drinkled up. In addition, casinos need to protect their assets from people trying to cheat or steal. This is why casinos spend a lot of time and money on security.