A casino, sometimes known as a gaming house or a gambling hall, is an establishment where people can play games of chance for money. Most casinos offer a wide variety of casino games, such as poker, blackjack, roulette, and craps. Some even have a theatre or a dancing area. Some famous casinos include the Monte Carlo Casino, featured in a number of novels and films, and the Stardust Resort and Casino, in Las Vegas.
Modern casinos employ extensive technology to monitor their guests and games. Some of this is obvious; for example, betting chips have built-in microcircuitry that allows the casino to track exactly how much money is being wagered minute by minute, and to be alerted immediately to any deviation from the expected results. Other technology is less obvious; for example, roulette wheels are electronically monitored to discover any statistical anomalies.
While entertainment (musical shows, lighted fountains, shopping centers) and accommodations help bring in the crowds, the casinos would not exist without the millions of bets placed by gamblers each year. These bets, along with the vig or rake, give the casino its profit.
Casinos take a variety of steps to keep their patrons happy, from free food and drink to allowing them to gamble with chips instead of actual money. This makes the players less likely to worry about losing real money, and also helps the casino monitor how much is being wagered in and out of the game.