A casino is a place where people can gamble and play games of chance. Musical shows, lighted fountains, shopping centers and lavish hotels help draw in the crowds, but the billions of dollars in profits that casinos generate each year come from gambling. The articles in this section discuss how a casino makes money, how popular casino games are played and what to expect if you decide to visit a casino.
A Casino is a Business
Like any other business, casinos have built-in advantages that ensure they will win in the long run. Every game offered gives the house a mathematical expectation of winning, and it is very rare for a casino to lose money on any given day. The house edge is so significant that casino owners consider it their virtual insurance policy against losing money.
To offset the house edge, many casinos offer players complimentary goods and services. These include free hotel rooms, food and beverages, reduced-fare transportation, tickets to shows and limo service for high rollers. These comps are intended to keep casino patrons coming back for more.
The modern casino is a huge building where hundreds of slot machines, table games and other games of chance are played. The first casinos opened in Nevada, and other states quickly followed suit as they realized that gambling could provide an enormous amount of revenue. Today, the world’s largest casinos are located in Las Vegas and in Macau, China.