A casino is a place where patrons gamble on games of chance and skill. Casino games include poker, baccarat, blackjack, roulette, keno, and slot machines. These games usually have a built in house advantage of less than two percent, which is known as the “house edge”. Casinos make billions of dollars each year from these bets and other gambling activities. Most casinos are large resorts with hotel and entertainment facilities, but they can also be smaller standalone buildings or even bars and truck stops that offer gaming machines. Many casinos are located in states that have legalized gambling, and some are owned by Native American tribes.

Casinos are designed to appeal to the senses of sight, sound, and touch. They are adorned with elaborate fountains, towers, and replicas of famous landmarks. They often use bright lights and pulsing music to attract gamblers. In addition to casino game tables and machines, some have restaurants, stage shows, and other amenities.

The typical casino patron is a forty-six-year-old female from a household with above-average income. According to a 2005 survey by Roper Reports GfK NOP and the U.S. Gaming Panel by TNS, women are more likely than men to prefer electronic gaming machines. However, they are less inclined than their male counterparts to play table games. Mafia figures brought cash into Reno and Las Vegas and invested it in transforming casinos from their seamy, illegal origins. They also became personally involved, taking sole or partial ownership of some casinos and exerting influence over the outcome of some games.