A casino is a place where gamblers can play games of chance and win money. While casinos provide many amenities to attract gamblers, such as restaurants, free drinks and stage shows, they are primarily gambling establishments. Games of chance such as slot machines, blackjack and roulette, as well as some games of skill like baccarat, contribute to the billions in profits raked in by U.S. casinos each year.

Gambling in one form or another has been a part of human culture for millennia. Dice appeared in China around 2300 BC, and card games became popular in Europe in the 1400s. In the United States, the first modern casino opened in Las Vegas in 1931. Today, a casino can be found just about anywhere in the country where legal gambling is permitted.

The gambling industry has become increasingly sophisticated, with the introduction of computerized games and electronic cash. Nevertheless, the house always has an edge over the players because of the mathematically determined odds of winning and losing.

To offset this disadvantage, casinos offer a variety of incentives to encourage and reward patrons. For example, they give high rollers special rooms where the stakes can be in the tens of thousands of dollars. They also entice them with comps, which are complimentary items such as free slots and meals. Casinos are also designed to be aesthetically pleasing, with bright colors and gaudy decorations that stimulate the senses. Windows and clocks are rarely seen in casinos, as these would be fire hazards; instead, the rooms are often decorated in shades of red, which is thought to make gamblers lose track of time.