What Is a Casino?

A casino, also called a casino or casin, is a building or large room where people can gamble on games of chance or skill. Some casinos are operated by governments or private businesses, while others are open to the public. Casinos differ from traditional gambling establishments in that they offer a wide variety of games, including poker, baccarat, craps, and roulette. In addition to these games, many casinos have restaurants and bars. They may also have high-end shops and other amenities.

In the United States, about 51 million people visited a casino in 2002. Casinos can be found in cities, towns, and rural areas. They can be as sophisticated as the Bellagio in Las Vegas, or as low-key as a pai gow hall in New York City’s Chinatown.

The success of a casino depends on the number and size of bets placed by patrons. Most games have a mathematical expectancy that gives the house a profit, or expected value, over the players. This advantage is known as the house edge. Because of this, casinos often focus on attracting and keeping high rollers, who make the most bets and therefore generate the most revenue. To encourage these high rollers, they sometimes provide free or reduced-fare entertainment and transportation, luxury living quarters, and even personal attendants. They also reward lesser bettors with comps, or complimentary items.