A casino is a building where people can gamble on games of chance. Some casinos are devoted solely to gambling, while others include restaurants, hotel rooms, and entertainment. Casinos are usually located in a very festive atmosphere, with plenty of noise and lights. Some casinos even have waiters circulating around with alcoholic drinks.
While your grandmother might enjoy taking weekend bus trips to the nearest casino with her friends, in the twenty-first century, casinos are choosier about who they let in their doors. They primarily focus their investments on high-stakes gamblers, who spend tens of thousands of dollars or more. In addition to the casino’s main floor, these gamblers play in special rooms where the stakes are much higher. They also receive special comps (free or reduced-fare entertainment, transportation, and hotel suites).
The Casino at Monte Carlo claims to be the world’s most beautiful casino, and its interior does indeed impress visitors with its baroque flourishes and gold accents. However, in terms of gaming space, it’s rivaled by the luxurious Resorts Casino in Las Vegas, which has a two-tier casino with 1,300 slot machines and 26 table games. The resort also has restaurants, theaters, a contemporary art gallery, and spa facilities.
Every casino game has a built-in advantage for the house, which, over time, earns the establishment enough gross profits to cover its operating expenses and to build elaborate hotels, fountains, pyramids, towers, and replicas of famous landmarks. Casinos make money by collecting a small percentage of all bets, which is called the vig or rake.
