A casino, or gambling house, is an establishment where people can gamble on various games of chance. These include card games, table games and video poker. In addition to these, some casinos offer sports betting and even horse racing. Some casinos also provide free drinks, restaurants and stage shows to attract customers.

Gambling probably predates recorded history, with primitive protodice and carved six-sided dice found at some archaeological sites. But the modern casino as a place where gamblers can find a variety of ways to risk their money under one roof did not appear until the 16th century, when Europe experienced a gambling craze. During this time, Italian aristocrats would hold private parties in rooms called ridotti where they could play cards and other games of chance with friends without fear of legal reprisal.

Today, most casinos are large commercial enterprises that build their profits by taking advantage of the irrationalities of human beings. In games with an element of skill, the house has a mathematical advantage over the players that is known as the house edge or expected value. Casinos hire mathematicians and computer programmers to develop the optimal strategies for various games and to calculate the house edges.

In the case of table games and poker where players compete against each other, casinos make their money through a commission, or rake, that is taken from each bet made by a player. Other sources of income for a casino may be from a bar or restaurant, ticket sales, or a hotel room reservation.