A casino is an establishment for certain types of gambling. Its customers are people who gamble on games of chance or skill, or on both. Casinos may be located in or combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, cruise ships, or other tourist attractions. In the United States, casinos are most often found in cities, and are regulated by state law. They can be large, sprawling facilities with multiple floors and a wide range of games or smaller establishments where the only game is poker.

Many casinos use the element of social interaction to attract customers and create a lively atmosphere. They feature food and beverage servers who circulate throughout the floor, bringing drinks and snacks to customers. They also have loudspeakers that announce the results of winning bets and other information. The lights and noise are designed to be stimulating, and the smell of cigarette smoke is often present.

Most casinos are for-profit enterprises and make their money through the percentage of money that customers lose to the house. This is called the “house edge” and is the mathematical advantage that the casino has over the players. The house edge is much higher in games that involve a high degree of skill, such as blackjack or Spanish 21, than in those with low skill, such as video poker or roulette. In addition to the house edge, the casino takes a commission from each bet, which is known as the rake.