A casino is an entertainment establishment where games of chance are played. It offers a wide variety of games, including slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps, poker and other card games, and also provides entertainment through live performances or TV shows. It has a long history and is now the largest form of gambling in the world. Casinos are regulated by local laws and can be very profitable enterprises.

A large portion of a casino’s profit comes from big bettors, who are called “high rollers”. They often gamble in special rooms away from the main casino floor, where they can bet in the tens of thousands of dollars. These high rollers are rewarded with a variety of comps, or complimentary goods and services. Comps can include free spectacular entertainment, luxury suites, and reduced-fare transportation and hotel accommodations.

Casinos are designed around noise, light and excitement. The floors and walls are often covered with brightly colored, gaudy materials that stimulate and cheer the players. There are usually no clocks on the casino walls, because it is believed that a gambler’s concentration will be impaired by watching time pass. Throughout the gaming area, there are speakers playing music and providing announcements to keep the atmosphere lively.

Although the mob controlled many casinos in the past, they were soon bought out by real estate investors and hotel chains. Because these companies had much deeper pockets, they were able to operate the casinos without mob interference. Federal crackdowns on any hint of mob involvement have also helped to keep legitimate businesses operating freely from mafia control.