A casino is a gambling establishment where patrons play a variety of games of chance for money or other prizes. These places may have a wide range of extras such as restaurants, free drinks and stage shows but for practical purposes all casinos are simply places where people gamble on games of chance. Casinos vary in size from large resort casinos to small card rooms. They can be found in cities, towns, and countrysides throughout the world and they are often open to the public.

Successful casinos bring in billions of dollars a year for the companies, investors and Native American tribes that operate them. These profits also generate tax revenue for local governments and communities. However, critics point out that compulsive gambling takes money away from other forms of entertainment and raises the costs of crime, addiction treatment, and lost productivity among those affected by it.

Most casinos offer a variety of games but their most famous game is probably roulette. Other popular games include baccarat, blackjack, and poker (although these are less common in Europe). Some casinos also offer traditional Far Eastern games such as sic bo (which became very popular in European and American casinos during the 1990s), fan-tan, and pai gow. They also feature a number of slot machines. The walls and floor in a casino are usually decorated with bright colors that are meant to stimulate the senses and make it easy for gamblers to lose track of time. Unlike other businesses, casinos do not display clocks.