A casino, also known as a gaming house or gambling house, is a place where people can gamble by playing games of chance or skill. These establishments are often combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and other tourist attractions. In the United States, casinos are licensed and regulated by state governments. People can exchange cash or casino chips for gambling credit at these locations.

Casinos have various table games, such as blackjack, roulette, and craps. They also feature slot machines and video poker. Most of these machines are operated by casino employees, who are known as croupiers or dealers. In addition to gambling, some casinos offer sports betting and other forms of entertainment.

Most casino games have a mathematical expectation of winning for the house, which is known as the house edge. This advantage can be minimized by skilled players, but even then the odds are always against the player. The house edge is a percentage of the total amount wagered. The house usually takes a commission from the winnings, which is known as the rake.

The most famous casino in the world is probably the Monte Carlo Casino, which has been featured in several books and movies, including Ben Mezrich’s “Busting Vegas”. Many American cities have casinos. Some are located in land-based buildings, while others are in large hotel and casino complexes or on American Indian reservations that are exempt from state laws against gambling. During the 1980s, casinos also began to open on riverboats and in some states that had previously banned them.