A casino is a place where people gamble by playing games of chance and in some cases skill. Slots, baccarat, blackjack, roulette, craps and poker are just some of the popular gambling games that earn casinos billions of dollars in profits every year. While musical shows, lighted fountains and hotel rooms help lure in patrons, casinos would not exist without the games of chance that drive their profits.

Casino security starts on the gaming floor where employees watch patrons to spot cheating or stealing. Table managers and pit bosses oversee table games with a larger view and can catch things that a dealer cannot, such as suspicious betting patterns or the exchange of chips for cash. Casinos also spend a lot of time and money on surveillance systems that offer an eye-in-the-sky view of the entire casino, enabling security personnel to monitor everything from individual players to groups of them mingling in different areas.

The perks that casino customers receive are called comps. They include free drinks, meals and hotel stays. These perks are not just for big losers, but for anyone who plays for a long time and puts up a lot of action on the casino floor. You can get comps by showing your player’s club card at the slot machines or video poker, handing it to a dealer in a game like baccarat, blackjack or craps or asking a casino employee to scan it for you.

During the 1970s, many of Las Vegas’ biggest casinos offered discounted travel packages and cheap buffets to encourage gamblers to fill up hotel rooms and the casino floors. This was a great way to keep visitors gambling longer and earn them more comps, even when they were losing money.