Casino is a gaming establishment or facility that offers various forms of gambling. These include slot machines, video poker, blackjack, roulette, craps, keno and other table games. Casinos are licensed and regulated by state governments or gaming control boards/commissions. In the United States, there are several state-run casinos in addition to a number of privately owned and operated casinos. The term casino is also used to refer to a large resort-style facility that features multiple gaming areas and a full range of entertainment options, such as restaurants, hotels and convention centers.

Despite the high stakes, most casino games are played for fun. Some games involve skill, while others depend primarily on chance. Most games have mathematically determined odds that give the house an advantage over players. This advantage is called the house edge. In games such as baccarat and poker where players play against each other, the house takes a commission known as rake.

Many modern casinos are like indoor amusement parks with dazzling lights, musical shows and elaborate themes. While these elements add to the appeal, casinos would not exist without games of chance that provide the billions of dollars in profits they rake in every year. While casinos make a great deal of money from gamblers, they also have the potential to be harmful to their communities. Studies show that compulsive gambling drains local businesses, and that the cost of treating problem gambling is much higher than any economic gains a casino brings in.