A casino (from Latin: , kaina, meaning “house”) is an establishment for certain types of gambling. Casinos are often built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, cruise ships or other tourist attractions. Many casinos offer a wide range of games, including poker, bingo and blackjack. Others feature live entertainment such as concerts or stand-up comedy. Some casinos also have a sports book where people can place bets on events such as horse races and football matches.

Most casino games have a built-in statistical advantage for the house, known as the house edge. This may be a small amount, but it adds up over time as players make millions of bets. Casinos use this money to pay for things like dazzling decor, fountains, giant towers and replicas of famous landmarks.

In some casino games, skill plays can lower the house edge. For example, blackjack players can improve their odds by counting cards or playing with a partner. Regardless, the casino’s house edge will eventually grind away profits. So casinos do everything they can to keep players at the tables, including providing free drinks. Inebriated gamblers tend to have poor judgment, which makes them more likely to make bad decisions.

The casino business relies on large sums of money from the public and must be conducted in accordance with state laws. As a result, it is sometimes associated with organized crime and illegal activities. Mob money flowed steadily into Reno and Las Vegas, but the mobsters were not content to simply supply the bankrolls. They became heavily involved in the operation of casinos and took sole or partial ownership of several.