Gambling has many impacts that affect people at the personal, interpersonal and community/society levels. These impacts are generated at the gambling establishments, in households where gamblers reside and at other places where they spend money such as restaurants, bars/clubs, hotels/casino resorts and shopping centers. In general, casino gambling impacts are detrimental to the health and social well-being of the communities in which they exist.

Casinos are large, luxurious facilities that house a variety of games of chance and offer a number of other amenities for the pleasure of their customers. These amenities include restaurants, free drinks, stage shows and dramatic scenery. There are also less lavish facilities that house gambling activities, and these would technically be called casinos as well.

A casino is a business, and like any other business, it needs to make a profit. The house edge, which is the built-in advantage that the casino has over its patrons, can be a small percentage, but it adds up over time and millions of wagers. In addition to the house edge, casinos also take a commission on some of their video poker and slot machines known as the vig or rake.

To ensure their profits, casinos often try to lure their customers through comps or complimentary items. Depending on the amount of time and money a player spends, they may be offered free dinners, show tickets or hotel rooms. In order to get these perks, players must ask a casino employee how to sign up for their casino comps program.