Casinos are glass-and-steel temples of luxury that tempt tourists to up the ante. The most luxurious casinos offer top-notch hotels, spas, restaurants, bars, and theaters, along with a full slate of gaming options and live entertainment.

How Casinos Make Money

While music shows, lighted fountains, shopping centers, and elaborate themes draw visitors in, the most profitable casino owners know that their biggest source of profit comes from gambling. Blackjack, roulette, keno and baccarat are just some of the games that rake in billions of dollars each year.

How They Stay Safe

Casino security starts on the floor, where employees keep an eye on each player and every game. Dealers are heavily focused on their own table, while pit bosses and other higher-ups watch over everyone else and note betting patterns that could signal cheating.

Getting Your Comps

A casino rewards good players with free hotel rooms, dinners, tickets to shows and even limo service or airline tickets as a thank you for their hard work. These bonuses are based on how much money you spend and how long you play at the casino, so it’s important to understand how these incentives work before you start playing.

House Edge

Casinos have a business model that ensures they’ll always make a profit, so the house edge in slot machines and other games is determined by the casino’s average gross profit. For example, the house edge on an American roulette wheel is 5.26%, so for every $1 million that’s bet, the casino expects to pocket about $950,000.