A casino is a place where people can gamble and play games of chance. Modern casinos are like indoor amusement parks for adults, and they draw millions of visitors from around the world every year. They make money by charging bettors for the right to try their luck at slot machines, black jack, roulette and other games of chance.

Casinos are usually heavily guarded and have security cameras. They often feature elaborate architectural designs, such as towers, pyramids and replicas of famous landmarks. They also have restaurants, theaters, shopping areas and other forms of entertainment. Some are located near or combined with hotels, resorts and cruise ships.

Some casinos specialize in particular types of gambling. For example, they may offer a wide range of Asian casino games such as sic bo (which spread to America from Asia in the 1990s), fan-tan and pai gow. They might also offer regional games such as two-up in Australia, banca francesa in Portugal and boule in France. Some casinos also include table games that are played on a board rather than on the floor. These include the Icelandic game of Ofanfelling and the French games of renette, tables rôtues and paumecary.

Most casinos are designed to maximize profits by filling hotel rooms, dining facilities and gambling floors with as many people as possible. This is done by offering a variety of incentives for gambling, including discounted travel packages, free buffets and show tickets. These perks are known as comps. A small percentage of gamblers are addicted to gambling, and they generate a disproportionate share of the revenue for casinos. However, studies suggest that the net value of a casino to a community is negative, because it draws away spending from other local businesses and activities.