A casino is a facility for certain types of gambling. Modern casinos often include other entertainment features such as restaurants, hotels, nightclubs and shopping. Some of the biggest casino destinations in the world are Las Vegas, Singapore and Macau.
Because large amounts of money are handled within casinos, both patrons and employees may be tempted to cheat or steal in collusion with one another, or simply in the course of regular play. Because of this, most casinos spend a significant amount of time, effort and money on security measures. Some of these are obvious, such as cameras located throughout the casino. Others are less so: chips with built-in microcircuitry allow casinos to monitor the exact amounts wagered minute by minute, and roulette wheels are electronically monitored to discover any statistical deviations from their expected results.
Many casinos focus on customer service and offer perks designed to encourage gamblers to spend more than they intend to. This is particularly true for high rollers, who are offered free or reduced-fare transportation, luxury hotel rooms and other amenities. In addition, a percentage of all winning bets is taken by the casino in the form of a house edge.
Casinos are also a major source of tourist revenue. They typically have bright and sometimes gaudy floor and wall coverings that are intended to stimulate the senses and make people lose track of time. In addition, the presence of clocks is often avoided because it would be disruptive to the gaming environment.