A casino is a place where people can gamble on games of chance and in some cases with an element of skill. A casino may offer a wide variety of gambling activities and is generally located in an area where there are many hotels and restaurants. It may also offer other luxuries, such as free drinks and stage shows, to attract customers. Some casinos are owned by governments or gaming commissions, while others are privately owned and operated. There have been some public concerns about the social impact of casinos and the potential for compulsive gambling.
A large amount of currency is handled in a casino, so security personnel are trained to look for suspicious activity. The patterns of game play are also well established, so security people can often spot blatant cheating, such as palming or marking cards or dice. Casinos have a variety of security measures, including a physical security force and specialized surveillance departments (often called the eye in the sky).
The casinos that draw the most business are those that cater to high rollers who are willing to spend significant amounts of money. They are usually located away from the main floor and have special rooms where the stakes can be in the tens of thousands of dollars. High rollers receive complimentary goods or services (known as comps) from the casino, such as food and drinks, hotel rooms, show tickets, and even limo service and airline tickets.