A casino is a facility that houses gambling games. It may also have restaurants, bars and entertainment venues. The casino industry is a major source of revenue in many countries. Most casinos are located in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and other major tourist destinations. However, there are now casinos in many other places including some American Indian reservations.
There are many kinds of gambling games in a casino, but the vast majority are games of chance. These games are based on probability and have uniformly negative expected values (i.e., the house always has an advantage over players). Casinos generally make money by charging a vig or a commission on winning bets. This is usually a percentage of the total amount wagered. Some games are played against other players and have a skill component. These games often have positive expected values for the player.
Until recently, most states had laws against casino gambling. However, in the 1980s and ’90s, they began to legalize it. Casinos first appeared in Atlantic City, then spread throughout the country as state laws changed. They also appeared on American Indian reservations, which were exempt from state antigambling laws.
Most casinos are upscale resorts designed to attract high-spending tourists. They offer a variety of gambling games, with slot machines taking up the largest share of floor space in most casinos. Baccarat and blackjack are other popular games. In addition, some casinos feature traditional Far Eastern games such as sic bo, fan-tan and pai gow poker.