From the opulent halls of Monte Carlo to the high-stakes tables of Las Vegas, casinos have captured the imagination and attention of people around the world. While high-rollers are attracted to the big jackpots, most people who frequent casinos come for the luxury of opulent suites, top-notch hotels, and spas. But what makes a casino truly special? Is it the array of games, the glamour, or something else entirely?

When most Americans think of a casino, they probably imagine one of the giant resorts of Las Vegas, complete with neon lights and all the glitz and fun. But the word casino actually has a much more sweeping definition in Merriam Webster’s dictionary: “a building or room used for social amusements, especially gambling.”

While many games do require some degree of skill, most are simply games of chance with a house edge. This advantage, calculated as the mathematical expectation of a game’s outcome, ensures that the casino will ultimately make money over the long run. In some games, the house also collects a rake or commission, which is a percentage of each hand played.

Casinos are highly motivating places for some people, with bright lights and stimulating music drawing in hordes of people. But casinos have a way of making even the most casual patrons spend more than they can afford. They offer perks, called comps, to encourage gamblers to gamble more. For example, during the 1970s, casinos in Las Vegas offered reduced-fare transportation and hotel rooms to the biggest bettors, as well as free drinks and cigarettes while they gambled.