A casino, also called a gaming establishment or gambling hall, is a building or large room where people can gamble on games of chance. Casinos feature a wide variety of gambling options, including dice, cards, slots and horse racing. They also offer food and drinks. Some casinos are known for their celebrity entertainers or high-stakes gaming. Others are famous for their architectural style or special features such as a dancing fountains.
Most Americans think of Las Vegas when they hear the word casino, but the definition in Merriam-Webster’s dictionary is much broader. The term refers to any place where social amusements are provided for a fee or a share of the profits, usually in the form of gambling.
Modern casino gaming is a multibillion-dollar industry that brings in huge sums for the companies, investors and Native American tribes that own them. But something about casinos (perhaps their high stakes or the fact that they bring together strangers for a common purpose) seems to encourage some players to cheat, steal or lie in an attempt to beat the house. That’s why casinos spend so much time, money and effort on security. Casinos employ a large number of highly trained staff, from dealers who keep their eyes on the game to spot blatant cheating and scamming, to pit bosses who supervise table games and have a wider view of the patrons’ activities. They also pay out comps to big-spending players, giving them free hotel rooms, meals, tickets to shows and even limo service.