A casino is a gambling establishment that offers games of chance and in some cases an element of skill. It also provides complimentary items and services to gamblers. It earns money from its customers through the house edge, which is a mathematically determined advantage over the players, and by taking a percentage of bets, called the vig or rake in game of poker or table games like blackjack.

The casino business is heavily regulated, and casinos are often located in areas where the gambling laws are strict. In addition, they use elaborate security systems. Elaborate cameras and monitors are used to constantly oversee all activity, and roulette wheels are electronically monitored minute-by-minute to discover any statistical deviations from their expected results. In some casinos, betting chips have built-in microcircuitry that interacts with electronic systems in the tables to enable casinos to see exactly how much is wagered minute by minute.

Casinos have become popular destinations for tourists and locals alike, partly because of the glamorous, high-energy atmosphere that is created around gambling tables. Most casinos offer nonalcoholic drinks and snacks for free, and many feature restaurants and bars with live entertainment. Some casinos are so large that they have their own shopping malls.

The most famous and glitzy casinos are in Las Vegas, but the United States has several other highly regarded facilities as well. The elegant spa town of Baden-Baden in Germany was a favorite of European royalty and aristocracy 150 years ago, and its casino is among the most beautiful in the world.