A casino is a gambling establishment that offers games of chance and some entertainment. It may also have restaurants, bars and even an art gallery or museum. Some casinos are massive resorts while others are small card rooms. There are also a number of floating casinos operating on barges or boats. And then there are the racinos, which are casinos that have added racetracks and other entertainment options.
Whether or not a place qualifies as a casino depends on how it is run and what games are offered. The best casinos offer a wide variety of table and slot machines, as well as an array of entertaining stage shows. Some offer luxury amenities such as free drinks and fancy restaurants. And some even have an onsite hotel.
Casinos make money by charging patrons a percentage of the money they bet, known as the house edge. This amount can be very small (less than two percent) but over time it adds up. The profits from the edge are used to pay for things like elaborate hotels, fountains, towers and replicas of famous landmarks.
Most casinos focus on customer service. They reward “good” players with perks such as free hotel rooms, food and show tickets. Some even give away limo service and airline tickets to high rollers. In 2005, Harrah’s Entertainment found that the average casino gambler was a forty-six-year-old female with above-average income and plenty of vacation time. These players were the biggest source of revenue for most casinos.