What Is a Casino?

A casino, or gambling house, is a building that houses games of chance and is regulated by law. Modern casinos have a vast array of features that help them to attract customers and keep them playing, but they would not exist without games like blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat and slot machines, which provide the billions in profits that make up the core of the industry.

Casinos typically have security cameras throughout the facility and are often built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, cruise ships and other tourist attractions. They also employ a wide range of security personnel, from uniformed guards to trained detectives.

Gambling houses often reward frequent and high-spending players with free goods and services, such as food, hotel rooms, show tickets or even limo service and airline tickets. These are known as comps. To earn these, a player must play regularly and spend a significant amount of money at the casino.

While the casino industry has a dark side, many of its patrons are reputable business people who have nothing to do with organized crime. However, mob figures once controlled much of the business in Reno and Las Vegas. Once federal crackdowns reduced the mafia’s power, legitimate businesses such as real estate developers and hotel chains saw a golden opportunity to enter the market with casinos that could compete with the Strip’s famous mob-controlled establishments.