A casino (also known as a gaming house, a gambling establishment, or a kasino) is an establishment that provides customers with a wide variety of casino games. It is often located near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships, and other tourist attractions. Casinos are also a major source of income for some governments.
A large portion of a casino’s revenue comes from table games, where customers gamble against the house. These games include craps, roulette, baccarat, blackjack and video poker. In addition, some casinos offer card games, such as pai gow and Caribbean stud. These games are generally played against a dealer, although some have player-versus-player tables where the house takes a commission (called rake).
Other forms of gambling in a casino include keno and bingo. These games are typically played in the open, while others are restricted to private rooms. Casinos may also feature entertainment such as stage shows, comedians or magicians.
While many casino patrons are wealthy, a significant percentage have lower incomes. In 2005, the average casino gambler was a forty-six-year-old female from a household earning above the national average. Casinos seek to maximize profits from these players by offering special deals such as free drinks and food, comped rooms, and discounted rates on other casino amenities. These offers may be targeted to particular demographic groups or geographic regions. Security is another important aspect of casino operations. Security personnel watch over the games and patrons to ensure compliance with rules and to spot suspicious activity. The routines of each game, such as the way dealers shuffle and deal cards or place bets, follow certain patterns that make it easy for security staff to identify cheating.