You stride into a casino, wallet filled with cash, and plans to enjoy some fun gaming and maybe a few rounds of drinks. Hours later you don’t know what time it is, how many drinks you’ve had or how much money you spent. Casinos use sounds, lights and even physical design to trick you into spending more and more.

While casinos are famous for their seedy backroom gambling parlors where mobster-like characters might be seen stealing or cheating, the fact is that casinos are a major source of revenue and jobs for many communities. The taxes collected from gambling establishments allow local politicians to fund community services, avoid budget cuts or raise the wages of the people who live in the area.

Casinos offer a variety of bonuses and promotions to attract new players. Welcome bonuses, loyalty bonuses and reload bonuses are just a few of the rewards offered by casino operators. They also offer tournaments that are worth a lot of money.

The main way that casinos make money is by offering comps to high-stakes gamblers. These include free rooms and meals, a range of other gambling activities and luxury perks. High-stakes gamblers spend a great deal of money, so they are the best source of revenue for casinos. Casinos also have special rooms for high-rollers that are separate from the main casino floor. In these rooms, the minimum bet is usually in the tens of thousands of dollars.