A casino—or kasino, as it’s known in some countries—is an establishment for gambling. The majority of the money that casino owners make comes from the games of chance, such as slot machines, blackjack, poker, craps, roulette and baccarat. Musical shows, lighted fountains, shopping centers and lavish hotels also help draw in gamblers. But these amenities would not exist without the games, which provide the billions of dollars in profits casinos rake in each year.
While it may seem as if casinos are built to entice people with flashy lights and high-stakes entertainment, they actually have a more serious side. Studies show that casino gambling is addictive, and the economic costs of treating problem gamblers often reverse any benefits casinos might bring to a community.
The most popular casino game is the slot machine, which takes in a larger percentage of a casino’s overall profits than any other game [source: PBS]. Slot machines are easy to play, and no amount of skill can influence their outcome. All a player has to do is push a button or pull a handle, and varying bands of colored shapes roll on reels (actual physical ones or video representations)—when the right pattern appears, the player wins a predetermined amount of money.
To keep their most valuable gamblers happy, casinos offer them comps—free goods and services. The amount of time a person spends at a casino and the size of his or her bets determines how much comps a gambler will receive. Some of these amenities include free hotel rooms and meals, show tickets and limo service, even airline tickets.