A casino is a place where gambling is the primary activity, and it usually adds other amenities to attract customers. These include restaurants, free drinks and stage shows. The most famous casinos are in Las Vegas and Macau.

Something about casinos encourages otherwise rational people — those who work hard for their money and make reasoned financial decisions on a day-to-day basis — to throw hundreds of dollars away based on the roll of the dice or the spin of the wheel. That’s why casinos have extensive security measures, including a high-tech “eye-in-the-sky” surveillance system that watches every table, window and doorway. Security personnel can also adjust the cameras to focus on suspicious patrons at the touch of a button.

In addition, casinos are intentionally designed to be labyrinthine. The curving paths and strategically placed gaming sections lure people into making impulsive bets, often on things they’d never consider outside of the casino. And to further distract and seduce, casino patrons are served nonstop booze.

And then there are the comps. Big spenders at the poker tables, blackjack and roulette tables are given free food, rooms, show tickets, limo service and airline tickets. The goal is to get gamblers to spend more time and money at the casino, so they will be less likely to leave to meet basic needs such as sleep or sustenance.