A casino (also known as a gambling house) is an establishment for certain types of gambling. Casinos are often built near or combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops and cruise ships. Casinos are also known for hosting live entertainment such as shows, concerts and sports events. In some countries, the term casino may be synonymous with race track or horse racetrack.
The most famous casinos are recognizable worldwide. The Bellagio in Las Vegas, for instance, is a glitzy icon that has made its way into countless movies and has earned a reputation as an unmissable experience when visiting Sin City. The elegant spa town of Baden-Baden, Germany has long been a favorite destination for European royalty and aristocracy.
Every casino game has a built in statistical advantage for the house. Depending on the game and its rules, this edge is typically less than two percent. The casino earns money from this “house advantage” through a commission or rake, which is usually collected by the dealers. High rollers are treated to extra comps such as free hotel rooms, meals and tickets to shows.
Casinos are carefully designed to keep people coming back. They use bright and sometimes gaudy decorations that are intended to stimulate and cheer people up. Unlike other businesses, they do not put clocks on their walls because they want people to lose track of time and stay longer. They also have a range of scented oils that are meant to create an artificial sense of bliss.