Casinos are public places where people can gamble by playing a variety of games of chance. While some casinos may add extra luxuries to draw in customers, such as restaurants, spas, golf courses, stage shows and dramatic scenery, they still fundamentally are gambling halls.

Casinos make money by taking a small percentage of each bet, or house edge, which can be as low as two percent. This advantage earns casinos enough money to build elaborate hotels, fountains and replicas of famous landmarks. It also allows them to attract high rollers who spend large sums of money. These players get free hotel rooms, meals and tickets to shows, along with comps like limo service and airline tickets.

When a player wins on a slot machine or blackjack table, the lights flash and sounds blare. This artificial euphoria keeps other players betting, even though it’s unlikely that they will win. In fact, slot machines can be programmed to use near-misses (when a player is close to winning) to keep players on the machine longer.

The Institute for American Values, a conservative think tank, is worried about the impact of casinos on the economy. But it’s just as concerned about the way they exploit problem gamblers, who are a large and growing portion of the gaming industry. The IAV worries that casinos exacerbate inequality and harm family stability. The group has also called for more restrictions on advertising and a ban on sports wagering in casinos, which it says would increase competition and cut down on gambling’s addictiveness.