A casino is an establishment for gambling. Some casinos are standalone facilities, while others are combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops or other tourist attractions. A casino’s patrons gamble by playing games of chance, in some cases with an element of skill. Most casino games provide a predictable long-term house advantage, often referred to as the house edge or vigorish. Casinos may also give out complimentary items (compliments, or comps) to players based on their amount of play and the type of game played.
Something about the presence of large amounts of money seems to encourage people to cheat, steal or scam their way into a jackpot. As such, most casinos have significant security measures in place to deter crime and protect their assets. These measures can include anything from a full-time security force to high-tech eye-in-the-sky surveillance systems.
One of the most famous and decadent casino destinations is Caesars Palace on the Las Vegas Strip. This opulent temple to gambling was designed by architect Jay Samo and features Roman-inspired architecture and a long list of stars that have performed on its stage, including Frank Sinatra, Liberace and Elton John. Then there is the Grand Lisboa, a glitzy landmark in Macau, east Asia’s version of Vegas. Its exterior shimmers with a million LED lights and the casino itself is a glittering fantasy of marble, chandeliers, art and celebrity. This casino is well known for its poker room and was featured in the 2001 film Ocean’s Eleven.