A casino is a gambling establishment where people bet money on games of chance and sometimes skill. It is associated with glitz and glamour but also seediness and gloom. It has an almost universal association with Las Vegas, but it is possible to find casinos in many cities and even in some rural areas of the country.
A casino has a wide range of gambling activities, from the classic table games to more exotic and modern offerings. A large number of these are based on the cards, but there are also dice, roulette wheels and video poker. Most of these games have mathematically determined odds that ensure the house a steady profit (sometimes called vigorish or rake). Casinos also often give out free items to “good” players, known as comps.
Casinos have a long history of advertising their glamorous atmosphere, with bright and sometimes gaudy floor and wall coverings intended to stimulate the senses and cheer the players up. The walls are usually decorated with red, because it is believed to make the patrons lose track of time and thus stop betting too much. Clocks are never visible on casino walls.
In the twenty-first century, casinos are choosier about whom they allow to gamble in their establishments. High-stakes gamblers are placed in special rooms separate from the main gaming floor, where their wagers can run into the tens of thousands of dollars. These gamblers are offered extravagant inducements, including free spectacular entertainment and reduced-fare transportation and hotel accommodations.