A casino is a gambling establishment that offers chance-based games of chance and some skill, such as craps, roulette, blackjack, and video poker. Most casinos have a mathematical advantage over the players that is known as the house edge. The house edge is not constant; it varies depending on the game, the rules, and the number of decks used. The house earns money by taking a percentage of the total bets made, which is called the rake. The casino may also offer complimentary items or comps to players.

Casinos are most often located in cities with large populations and a significant tourist industry, such as Las Vegas, Macau, and Singapore. In the United States, they have also become common in Atlantic City and on Indian reservations, as they are not subject to state antigambling laws.

In addition to a variety of gambling games, most casinos feature restaurants, hotels, and entertainment shows. Many are themed and designed to impress, such as the Grand Lisboa in Macau, which features a giant LED dome and a host of high-profile performers.

Gambling has been a part of human civilization for millennia, with the first casinos appearing in Europe around the 1850s. In the modern world, there are more than a thousand casinos operating worldwide. Many of these are mega-resorts that offer a full range of luxury services to attract and retain customers, including Michelin star dining, designer shops, and top-billed entertainers. Others are smaller, but no less impressive, such as the Monaco-based Monte Carlo Casino.