A casino is a gambling establishment that offers various types of chance-based games to its patrons. These games may include table games conducted by croupiers, such as blackjack and roulette, or machine games such as slot machines and video poker. In addition, a casino may offer other forms of gaming such as tournaments where players compete against each other. Casinos often earn money by charging a commission to play, known as the rake.

Gambling is a worldwide phenomenon and casinos have been a popular source of entertainment for centuries. They are also an economic mainstay in many states, particularly those whose economies depend on tourism and gaming revenue. In the United States, Las Vegas and Atlantic City are the most famous casinos. Other well-known casino destinations include Reno, Biloxi and Mississippi. In addition to allowing people to gamble, casinos often serve as entertainment centers, with shows and fine dining.

A casino is a business and like any other enterprise it strives to maximize its gross profit. It does this by incorporating built-in advantages into the games it offers. These advantages, known as house edges, ensure that the casino will ultimately make a net profit. Despite the house edge, casinos can still lose money on some individual wagers. To offset this, casinos routinely offer big bettors extravagant inducements such as free spectacular entertainment and luxury living quarters. In the United States, casinos have also adopted a practice called comping. This involves giving a player free hotel rooms, food, drinks and even airline tickets in exchange for large amounts of money spent on gambling.