A casino is a place where people can play games of chance for money or other rewards. Historically, these games have included dice, horse races and card games such as poker and blackjack. Modern casinos often feature a mix of these types of games as well as other entertainment options such as restaurants, bars and stage shows. The profits generated by these games provide the majority of the revenue for the casino owner.

Casinos are a popular source of recreation and an important part of the tourism industry. The United States is home to some of the largest gambling destinations in the world, including Las Vegas and Atlantic City. Many cities also have smaller, locally owned casinos.

Most casino games have a certain amount of skill involved, but the outcome is mostly determined by chance. The house always has a mathematical advantage over players, known as the house edge. Some games, such as craps and roulette, have a more significant house edge than others, such as blackjack or video poker. Some casinos offer complimentary items to their players, called comps. These can include free hotel rooms, dinners, show tickets and even airline tickets for big spenders.

While casinos have a number of amenities to draw in customers, they would not exist without games of chance. These games include blackjack, slot machines, baccarat, poker, roulette and other table games. Many of these games have a history that spans thousands of years. In the past, they were often illegal to play and had a stigma attached to them.