A casino is a gambling establishment that offers various games of chance. Guests may gamble on tables, slot machines, or poker games, and some casinos offer additional amenities such as top-notch hotels, restaurants, spas, bars, and live entertainment. The best casinos in the world combine a variety of gaming options with luxurious amenities and customer service. Many also embrace sustainability, contributing to local communities and causes.

While musical shows, lighted fountains, and lavish hotels all help draw in visitors, the billions in profits that casinos rake in every year would not be possible without the games themselves. Slots, blackjack, roulette, craps, and keno are the core of any modern casino, with variations like two-up, fan-tan, baccarat, and pai gow also available at some venues.

Casino security is a high priority for casino operators, and most have a physical security force as well as a specialized surveillance department that operates the casino’s closed circuit television system (the “eye-in-the-sky”). Staff members on the floor keep an eye on players, watching for blatant cheating or switching cards or dice, while table managers and pit bosses monitor the overall betting patterns in their area.

Casinos often target a specific audience of wealthy, high-stakes gamblers. These high rollers gamble in rooms away from the main casino floor, where the stakes are much higher and the rewards are greater. In return, high-rollers are often given free luxury suites and other perks. In the United States, these rooms are known as “VIP” rooms.