A casino, also known as a gambling house or kasino in many European countries, is a place where people can gamble. Although some casinos offer other entertainment such as musical shows and shopping centers, they would not exist without games of chance like roulette, blackjack, poker, craps and keno that draw in billions of dollars worth of bets every year. This article looks at the history of casinos, how they operate, the type of players they attract and the dark side of the industry.

Casinos are built in exotic locations around the world and offer top-of-the-line hotels, restaurants, spas and entertainment. Some are as grand as the Bellagio in Las Vegas, with dancing fountains and breath-taking art installations, while others offer a more low-key experience such as the glitzy casinos in Venice or Monaco. Some, such as the Hotel de Paris in Las Vegas and the Monte Carlo in Monaco are considered to be among the best casinos in the world.

Casinos make their money by offering games of chance with a built in advantage for the casino that can be as little as two percent. This edge is known as the vig or rake, and it makes up a large percentage of the profits that casinos make each year. Casinos reduce this edge for certain games to entice large bettors, such as roulette in France and the American version of the game, where casinos lower the advantage to less than 1 percent. Slot machines and (since the 1980s) video poker machines are the economic mainstay of American casinos, generating revenue from high volume play at sums ranging from five cents to a dollar.