A casino is a place where people play games of chance. These games can include roulette, blackjack, craps and video poker. Some casinos add luxuries such as restaurants and free drinks to attract players. These are called comps. In the United States, there are over 1,000 casinos. The most famous is in Las Vegas. There are also casinos in other cities, such as Atlantic City.

Gambling has a long history in the United States. Many American Indian tribes had gambling operations. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, legalized gambling began to spread around the country. Many Americans became attracted to the idea of pursuing luck and winning large amounts of money.

While modern casinos offer an array of luxuries, the core business is still gambling. Every game offered by a casino gives the house a mathematical edge over the bettors. It is very difficult for a casino to lose money on any one day. Because of this virtual assurance of profit, casinos offer big bettors extravagant inducements such as free spectacular entertainment, luxury living quarters and reduced-fare transportation.

Casinos use technology to oversee the integrity of their games. In some cases, computers can track the betting chips minute-by-minute and warn staff if there are any statistical deviations. Other techniques include catwalks in the ceiling that allow surveillance personnel to look down on the action from above. These technologies make it easy for casinos to enforce the laws against cheating and theft.