A casino is a gambling establishment that offers patrons the opportunity to gamble. Many casinos also offer live entertainment and other non-gambling activities. Some casinos are integrated into hotels, restaurants, resorts, or cruise ships. Others stand alone. Regardless of their size, all casinos have security measures to prevent cheating and theft by both patrons and staff. These include a variety of technological tools and the use of trained security personnel. In addition, patrons must sign a guest list and may be required to show identification before entering the gaming floor.
Most casinos offer table games such as blackjack and craps, and some feature poker and other card games. In these games, the house usually makes money through a commission (known as the rake) taken from each pot or by charging hourly fees for tables. Casinos also earn money through a variety of other methods, such as selling chips to players or letting them use them for free.
A casino may have a reputation for being glamorous or seedy, depending on its location and the nature of its clientele. In general, casino gamblers are older adults with above-average incomes and more vacation time than other groups. They are also more likely to have played other casino games before, and are therefore more familiar with the rules and strategy of those games. Casinos are also known for their perks and incentives to attract big bettors, such as reduced-fare transportation and hotel rooms, complimentary shows or meals, and discounted room rates.
