A casino is a gambling house where people wager money on games of chance and skill. In the United States, casinos are regulated by state laws and offer games such as blackjack, roulette, poker, craps, baccarat, video poker, and slot machines. Casinos also provide a variety of food and beverage options. The games in a casino are largely based on probability and mathematics, but some have an element of skill, such as in the case of craps and poker. Casinos typically make their money by charging fees for betting and taking a percentage of winning bets.

In addition to making money from gambling, casinos often try to entice patrons with free shows and other attractions. This approach is especially common in Las Vegas, where casinos compete with each other for visitors by offering low-cost or free food and entertainment. Casinos also attempt to maximize revenue by filling their gambling floors with as many people as possible. They do this by lowering their table minimums, increasing the number of machines, and providing a variety of gambling incentives.

The casino industry is a multibillion-dollar business that supports millions of jobs. It generates billions in taxes each year for the companies, investors, and Native American tribes that operate it. Casinos are also a major source of revenue for local governments, which use the profits to improve the quality of life for their residents.