A casino is a building that houses a variety of gambling activities. These establishments may also be combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops or other entertainment facilities. In the US, casinos are regulated by state law. Most states prohibit games that require a high degree of skill or knowledge. In addition to slot machines and table games, many casinos feature live entertainment.
The casino industry is a major employer in some countries. It is estimated that the number of people employed in casinos exceeds one million worldwide. In the United States, casino employees earn a median wage of $11 per hour. Casinos offer a wide range of benefits to their employees, including free hotel rooms and food. They are also paid overtime and receive health insurance coverage.
In addition, some casinos offer comps, or complimentary goods and services, to their players. These items can include tickets to shows, hotel rooms, meals, and even limo service or airline tickets. In order to be eligible for comps, a player must meet certain spending requirements.
The majority of casinos are located in Nevada, with a second concentration in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Some American Indian reservations also have casinos. A number of other states amended their laws in the 1980s to permit casino gambling. Because of the large amounts of money handled within a casino, both patrons and staff may be tempted to cheat or steal, either in collusion or independently. To prevent this, casinos have a number of security measures in place. These include surveillance cameras, which can be monitored remotely.