From the flashing lights of Las Vegas to the illegal pai gow parlors in New York’s Chinatown, casinos attract gamblers from around the world. Whether they are regulars who strut in with confidence expecting to win big, or first-timers hoping that luck is on their side, most of these people share one thing in common: They’re having a great time! With music blaring, coins clinking, and brightly colored walls and floor coverings, the casino atmosphere is upbeat and lively. While there may be some tutting when the dice roll wrong, it doesn’t take long for good vibes to return.

The games are the main attraction at any casino. There are classic table games like blackjack and poker that pit players against each other in a competition of skill and strategy, slot machines that give patrons a more relaxed experience, and the ever-popular roulette wheel, where bettors place chips on individual numbers in hopes that a ball will land in their favor. Modern casino slots can range from machines with physical spinning reels to those that replicate them on a video screen, but they all work the same way: deposit currency, choose your bet amount, spin the wheels, and hope for the best!

Casinos make much of their profits from high-rollers who bet large sums. They reward these patrons with “comps” that can include free hotel rooms, dinners, tickets to shows, and even limo service or airline tickets. While many casinos are still choosy with whom they will reward, the majority of their profits come from these high-stakes players.