A casino is a gambling establishment where people play a variety of games of chance. It is also a place where people socialize and have drinks. Some casinos have stage shows and other entertainment. People travel the world to gamble at the best casinos. They even spend a lot of money on hotel rooms, meals and drinks. Some of the most popular casino games are poker, blackjack, roulette and slots.

Casinos are designed to appeal to all the senses, especially sound and sight. Slot machines and gaming tables are arranged in a maze-like fashion to continually entice patrons to more games. Bright lights are used to attract attention and create an exciting atmosphere. More than 15,000 miles (24,000 km) of neon tubing is used to light Las Vegas casinos. The clang of coins falling into slot machine reels is electronically tuned to the musical key of C to be pleasing to the ear.

The economic mainstay of many American casinos is the income from slot and video poker machines, which require a much lower percentage of the total bet than do table games such as craps. The simplest machines pay out one dollar per spin, but more advanced models can pay out at rates ranging from five cents to a dollar or more. Table games, such as blackjack and roulette, have a higher profit margin and draw larger bettors.

To keep their advantage over patrons, casinos provide perks known as comps (complimentaries). These include free rooms, meals and show tickets. Big bettors are often given limo service and airline tickets. These inducements make it difficult for a casino to lose money, even for just one day.