A casino is a facility where people can gamble on various games of chance. It may also offer food and drink services and entertainment. The Bellagio in Las Vegas is perhaps the best known casino, but there are many others around the world.

Modern casinos often have elaborate fountains, lighted and sculptured buildings and even themed areas. They are also a major source of revenue for their owners. These profits come from the billions of dollars bet by casino patrons each year. While musical shows, lighted fountains and luxurious hotels help draw in customers, the actual gambling provides the bulk of casino profits. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette, baccarat and craps generate the vast majority of the money wagered at casinos.

The advantage that the house has in most games is usually very small, less than two percent. It is derived from mathematically determined odds that give the house an edge over individual players. This edge is known as the house edge, vig or rake. In games of skill, such as poker, the casino earns money through a commission called the rake.

While casinos are a large part of the economy in many states and cities, their effect on a community is often negative. Some economists argue that the revenue from casinos diverts spending from other forms of entertainment, hurts local restaurants and shops, raises crime and decreases home values in surrounding neighborhoods. Compulsive gambling is also a serious problem and drains local resources.