A casino, also known as a gambling house or kasino, is a place where people can gamble and other entertainment activities take place. Although musical shows, lighted fountains, lavish hotels and elaborate themes help draw in the crowds, casinos would not exist without games of chance. Slot machines, poker, blackjack, craps and baccarat bring in the billions of dollars in profits that casinos enjoy every year.
In the United States, casinos are usually located in states that allow legal gambling, such as Nevada, or on American Indian reservations not subject to state laws. In the 1980s, many American states allowed riverboat casinos to operate on their shorelines and a number of Native American tribes opened land-based casinos as well.
Most casinos focus on customer service to encourage and reward large spenders. These rewards, called comps, may include free or discounted hotel rooms, meals, drinks and show tickets. Some casinos use a system of cards that patrons swipe before playing to track their spending habits. These cards also make it easy for security personnel to spot suspected cheaters.
The popularity of casino card games varies by region. In America, most people play poker, while in Europe, baccarat is the most popular game. Some casinos even have a dedicated baccarat room. In addition, card games like solitaire and mahjong are available for those who prefer to stay away from the table games.