A casino, also known as a gambling house, is a place where people can gamble and play games of chance. Most casinos are combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops and other entertainment facilities. They are located in areas with high income populations, or in tourist destinations such as Las Vegas.
Casinos rely on technology to monitor and supervise the games. For example, a special type of betting chip with built-in microcircuitry allows casinos to oversee the exact amounts wagered minute by minute; roulette wheels are electronically monitored regularly to discover any statistical deviation from their expected results; and sophisticated surveillance systems use an “eye-in-the-sky” arrangement of cameras mounted on the ceiling to watch every table, change window and doorway.
In addition to the games themselves, casinos focus on customer service. They reward frequent and large bettors with free goods and services, such as meals, hotel rooms, show tickets and limo service. This is called comping. For example, in the 1970s Las Vegas casinos gave away a lot of free trips, shows and buffets to people who spent a lot of time and money gambling. The strategy was to attract more gamblers, who would spend more money and time in the casino, thereby increasing profits. The practice eventually spread to other cities and countries, and now gambling is legal in many places.