A casino is a gambling establishment that offers games of chance and in some cases skill. Customers gamble by placing bets on these games with real money. The casinos earn money through the built in advantage (typically less than two percent) that is mathematically determined for each game, and through a commission charged to players at poker and other games where they are not competing against the house. These are known as the vig and rake, respectively. Casinos take a number of steps to keep their customers happy, including free food and drink. They also use chips instead of cash to make it harder for players to track how much they are losing. However, these measures do not reduce the house edge significantly.

Most casinos specialize in a few games. The most popular are blackjack, roulette, and video poker. Some offer a variety of other card and dice games, such as baccarat, sic bo, fan-tan, and pai gow. In the United States, most casinos feature American-style video slots, though some still offer classic mechanical games. Asian casinos tend to focus on traditional Far Eastern games, such as sabung ayam, two-up, keno, banca francesa, and kalooki.

Casinos are often regarded as entertainment centers, and many have become famous for their architecture, décor, and ambience. Some, such as the Bellagio in Las Vegas, have even become cultural icons. However, critics point out that casinos can have negative economic effects. They can draw people away from other forms of recreation, and the addictions that result can cost the community a great deal through lost productivity.