A game’s house edge is the mathematical expectation that the casino will make money. The casino can never lose more than it can afford to pay out, as long as patrons play within the house’s limit. The casino’s mathematical expectation is the same for all games, and they rarely lose money. As a result, they frequently offer players lavish inducements such as free drinks, cigarettes, and reduced-fare transportation. These incentives keep the gambling tables full, and help casinos earn more money.

In the United Kingdom, baccarat is the principal game, with a variant known as chemin de fer. European continental casinos are popular with British visitors. Blackjack and roulette are common fixtures in American casinos. Many casinos have “chip tracking” machines that monitor wagers minute by minute. Roulette wheels are also regularly monitored for statistical deviations. Other casino games, such as video poker, are enclosed and playable without a dealer. The games are supervised by computers and have a lowered house edge.

Comps are other ways casinos reward their most loyal patrons. The high rollers spend more money than average gamblers and play in special rooms separate from the main casino floor. Many high rollers gamble in special rooms and have stakes totaling tens of thousands of dollars. This means that casinos make a lot of money from high rollers, and they benefit from perks such as free slots, discounts on meals, drinks, and show tickets. Comps are a valuable marketing tool for casinos, as they help them build patron databases that can be used to advertise and track trends.