A casino is a place where people can gamble and play games of chance. Modern casinos also have restaurants, free drinks and stage shows. They may be massive resorts like those in Las Vegas or small card rooms. People may also place bets on horse races or slot machines at racetracks called racinos. Some casinos are owned by governments, while others are run by private companies or Native American tribes. The owners profit from gambling activities by taking a percentage of each bet or charging an hourly fee. This is known as the house edge. Casinos may also give out complimentary items or comps to their best players.

A successful casino generates billions of dollars in profits each year for its owners, corporations and investors. It also brings in huge tax revenues for local, state and federal governments. Casinos employ thousands of people and have a huge economic impact on their surrounding communities.

Most casinos feature a variety of table games and slot machines. The most popular are blackjack, poker and craps. Some casinos offer traditional Far Eastern games such as sic bo, fan-tan and pai gow. Most US states require the legal age of 21 to gamble in a casino. However, some states have lower age requirements for certain types of gambling products. For example, some allow 18-year-olds to play baccarat while others only allow 20-year-olds to gamble on horses. Some states have age requirements for electronic gambling machines as well.