A Casino is a gambling establishment where people play games of chance for money. Though musical shows, lighted fountains and luxurious hotels help lure in visitors, casinos would not exist without the millions of dollars in profits that games such as slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps and baccarat bring in.

While casinos may look glamorous, they are not free of the darker side of gaming. Addicts to gambling make up a significant portion of the patron base, and their addiction often leads to criminal behavior, including fraud and embezzlement. The costs of treating compulsive gamblers and lost productivity from their absence often outweigh any economic benefits that a casino may generate.

In addition to slot machines, most casinos offer a variety of table games. In the United States, these include baccarat (in its popular variant known as chemin de fer), roulette and blackjack. Craps and poker also are found in many American casinos. In addition to the standard games, some casinos feature regional specialties. For example, Asian casinos usually offer a number of traditional Far Eastern games, such as sic bo (which spread to several European and American casinos during the 1990s), fan-tan and pai-gow.

In terms of games, there are few rules that are common to all casinos. However, there are some underlying principles that are applicable to all of them. For instance, a good tip is to always bet with money that is not earmarked for something else, such as food or rent. Also, never borrow money to gamble, whether from a friend or a bank.