Casinos are elaborate temples of entertainment where gamblers try their hand at winning money and opulent furnishings create a sense of luxury. Some travelers travel the world to visit casinos, while others inadvertently stumble upon them and find themselves enjoying a rewarding night of gambling.

While casinos offer a wide variety of attractions and amenities, the vast majority of their profits come from gambling. Slot machines, roulette, blackjack, baccarat and other games provide the billions in profits that casinos rake in every year. Musical shows, lighted fountains and hotels help draw in patrons, but casinos wouldn’t exist without the games of chance.

Although the games of chance in a casino are mostly luck-driven, there is some skill involved in some. Regardless, the house always has a mathematical advantage over players and is guaranteed to make money. Because of this, casinos can afford to lavish high-rollers with free spectacular entertainment and transportation, elegant living quarters and other inducements.

In the modern world, casino owners concentrate their investment on drawing in “high rollers” (gamblers who spend a lot of money). High-rollers often play in special rooms away from the main floor and can gamble for stakes in the tens of thousands of dollars. Because they bring in so much money, they are rewarded with valuable comps. Casinos also focus on customer service. Employees watch over table games with a close eye, spotting blatant cheating such as “palming” (switching cards) and marking or switching dice.