A casino, also called a gaming hall or a gambling establishment, is a facility where people can gamble. Casinos are most commonly found in the United States, but they can be found in other countries as well. They usually feature a wide variety of gambling games, such as poker, blackjack, slot machines, and roulette. They also often feature live entertainment, luxury hotels, and restaurants.
Most casinos are built around a central gaming floor, which is separated from the rest of the building by walls or a high fence. The floors are usually decorated in bright and sometimes gaudy colors, such as red, to stimulate the players. They also typically do not have clocks on the walls, because it is believed that seeing a clock would make players lose track of time and make them gamble more.
Modern casinos usually have security forces that are divided into two separate departments: a physical security force and a specialized surveillance department. The security staffs patrol the premises and respond to calls for assistance or reports of suspicious or definite criminal activity. They are also responsible for detecting and preventing cheating at the tables, such as card counting and other forms of collusion.
Because every game offered at a casino has a mathematical expectation of winning, the owners are virtually assured of gross profit. Therefore, they offer large bettors a host of perks known as comps. These can include free shows, hotel rooms, meals, limo service and airline tickets.