A casino is a gambling establishment where people play games of chance for money. Its amenities include slot machines, table games (like poker and blackjack), and entertainment shows. Casinos require that patrons be of legal gambling age and agree to abide by rules and regulations set forth by the facility. Casinos typically have security cameras in place to ensure that gamblers are not cheating or using their credit cards for other purposes.

Most casinos are designed to look like indoor amusement parks, with lighted fountains and themed restaurants. The vast majority of the profits, however, come from games of chance, with the most popular being slots and card games. Casinos also feature a variety of other games from around the world, including traditional Far Eastern games such as sic bo, fan-tan and pai gow.

The house edge is a universal characteristic of casino games, and casinos can count on a certain percentage of the money wagered by players to be lost on average. The mathematical expectancy of losing money is the basis for determining minimum and maximum bets. Casinos also offer free food and drinks to keep players on the premises, which can help increase their spending. They often use chips, instead of real cash, to make players less concerned about their bankroll.

A casino’s financial gain is offset by the cost of treating compulsive gamblers and lost productivity in local job markets. Some economists argue that the negative economic impact of a casino is greater than its revenue.