A casino is a gambling establishment that houses various types of games of chance. It may also feature other forms of entertainment, such as stage shows and dramatic scenery. Casinos are often combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, cruise ships, and other tourist attractions.
Casinos make money by taking advantage of the statistical edge that they have over players, which can be very small (lower than two percent). To offset this, casinos offer a variety of luxuries to attract gamblers and keep them there. These perks include free food and drinks, exotic locations, and spectacular architecture.
Because of the large amounts of money involved, patrons and staff may be tempted to cheat or steal, either in collusion with each other or independently. This is why casinos invest a lot of time and money on security. Cameras that monitor every table and slot machine are the most basic measure, but some casinos have catwalks in the ceiling with one way glass where security personnel can look down on the activities of the entire casino floor.
Most land based casinos focus on the major card games of poker, blackjack and roulette. However, many casinos are beginning to offer more exotic games like sic bo (which spread from Asian casinos to several European ones in the 1990s), fan-tan, and pai gow. These newer games have attracted a more diverse audience, including women, the elderly, and people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds who want to try their luck.