A casino is a building or room where people can play gambling games. Some casinos are standalone buildings, while others are part of hotels, resorts, or other larger complexes. People who visit a casino may also enjoy non-gambling entertainment, such as shows and restaurants. Some states have laws regulating the operation of casinos.
People can be tempted to cheat or steal at a casino, whether in collusion with other patrons or independently. Therefore, casinos employ a variety of security measures to prevent this. For example, dealers at table games are trained to spot blatant cheating techniques like palming or marking cards. Casinos use high-tech surveillance systems, including “eye in the sky” cameras that can monitor an entire floor from a single location and detect statistical deviations in expected results.
Casinos often offer comps to their most loyal customers, a practice known as VIP gaming. These free goods and services can include hotel rooms, meals, show tickets, and even airline tickets if the customer spends enough time and money playing their favorite games. Customers can usually find out how much they need to spend to qualify for a given comp by asking a host or casino employee.
Some casinos are located on Native American reservations, which allow them to operate without state antigambling regulations. This has led to a rise in the number of casinos outside Nevada and Atlantic City. Many of these are operated by Native American tribes, but some are run by commercial enterprises.