A casino is an establishment that offers a wide variety of card and gambling games. A casino may also feature entertainment such as floor shows and restaurants, among other amenities. Unlike a house, which is a private dwelling, casinos are licensed and regulated by governmental authorities to ensure fair play and prevent criminal activities. A casino may also offer incentives for patrons such as complimentary meals or free game credits.
Gambling, in its many forms, has been part of human culture for millennia. Evidence of dice-based gambling dates back to 2300 BC in China. Modern casinos have adapted this ancient activity to include a wide range of table and slot games. Some even have poker rooms for players to test their skills against one another.
While the average casino gambler spends less than two percent of his or her income at a casino, it makes enough money to build extravagant hotels and fountains. This is because the average casino has built in advantages, called house edges, that guarantee the casino a profit.
Casinos are staffed with people whose job it is to look out for cheating and other suspicious behavior. Security workers patrol the floor and keep an eye on each of the many tables. Cameras in the ceiling give a high-tech eye-in-the-sky view of each room and can be adjusted to focus on specific patrons. Some casinos have special rooms for high rollers whose bets are in the thousands of dollars. These gamblers are often rewarded with comps such as free luxury hotel rooms and other lavish amenities.