A casino, also known as a gambling house or a gaming establishment, is a building or room where certain types of gambling activities take place. These activities include casino games, lottery-like games, and other entertainment. Some casinos offer food and drink, as well as a place to sleep. A casino may be owned and operated by a private company or public corporation or it may be a franchise of a larger gambling company. Some states have legalized casinos, while others have banned them or limit their operations.
Most modern casinos feature a variety of casino games, including slots and video poker machines. Some also have table games such as blackjack, craps, roulette, and baccarat. These games usually provide a predictable long-term advantage to the casino, called the house edge or vigorish, while offering players the possibility of a short-term gain. Casinos may also have skill elements, with the player making decisions that impact the outcome of a game. Players possessing sufficient skills to eliminate the inherent long-term disadvantage of a particular casino game are known as advantage players.
Casinos are a major source of revenue for many cities and states. They are usually located near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and other tourist attractions. Casinos are often heavily regulated by government agencies to ensure that they are operating fairly. Due to the large amount of money that is handled within a casino, both patrons and staff may be tempted to cheat or steal, either in collusion or independently. As a result, most casinos have extensive security measures.