A casino is a place that houses gambling games, and patrons may play these games for real money. Successful casinos bring in billions of dollars each year for the companies, investors and Native American tribes that operate them. In addition, the gambling industry is a major source of revenue for local and state governments.

Casinos offer a variety of amenities to attract and keep gamblers, from free food and drinks to elaborate stage shows. They also employ a variety of security measures to prevent cheating or other illegal activities. In some states, casino-type games can be found in racetracks, which are known as racinos, and some bars and truck stops have gambling machines.

Gambling has been a popular pastime for many cultures throughout history. Some forms of gambling involve skill, while others are strictly chance-based. Regardless of the game or method chosen, the house always has an advantage over players in terms of odds, which can be expressed mathematically as the house edge.

The design of a casino is meant to create an atmosphere of luxury and excitement, and many casinos are decorated with expensive carpeting, lavish chandeliers and other decorative elements. Many casinos use chips instead of actual currency to reduce the risk of theft and to make it easier for customers to keep track of their betting activity. In addition, the use of chips reduces the amount of attention that players must pay to the passage of time.