A casino is a place where people gather to gamble. They offer a wide variety of games and amenities, including top-notch hotels and restaurants. Casinos are also known for their glamorous attractions and have inspired popular movies like the first Ocean’s 11. They have a certain mystique that makes them a favorite pastime of millions of people around the world.

A large part of a casino’s profits come from high rollers who make huge bets. They usually have to gamble in special rooms away from the main floor because they can spend tens of thousands of dollars at a time. As a reward for their generous spending, casinos will extend to them what are called comps. These are complimentary items such as hotel rooms, food, drinks and even free casino chips. These are a way to get big bettors to return. In the United States, there are laws prohibiting this practice.

Casinos rely on a wide range of employees to keep their doors open for customers. At the very top is a casino manager who oversees all operations. Below that are department managers, such as a floor manager or slot machine manager. There are also frontline workers, such as dealers and pit bosses who supervise table games.

All of these employees have an eye to spotting cheating and theft. For example, a casino may install cameras to keep an eye on all transactions that take place. The casino’s security staff is also tasked with watching patrons to spot suspicious behavior, such as palming or marking cards or dice.