A casino, also known as a gaming house or a gambling establishment, is a facility where games of chance and some other types of gambling are played. Traditionally, casinos have been places where people can play games of chance or skill, such as craps, roulette, blackjack, poker and horse racing, but in the twenty-first century many have added restaurants, hotels and other amenities to attract gamblers.
Modern casinos often have a very elaborate decoration, and are large enough to host a number of different games and activities simultaneously. These include a wide range of slot machines, table games and video poker. Most have a restaurant and free drinks for players. Some even have stage shows and dramatic scenery.
Casinos typically make money by charging a “vig” or commission on some of the wagers made in them. They may also receive a percentage of the total amount of money that is bet on certain games, such as the poker tables.
In the United States, most casinos are operated by major hotel and gaming companies. They are usually located in cities with large populations, such as Las Vegas and Atlantic City. Most casinos are regulated by state laws. A small number of them are owned by Native American tribes. In Europe, casino gambling started in the late twentieth century, when several countries changed their laws to permit them.