A casino, also known as a gambling house or a gaming room, is an establishment where people can gamble. Casinos are most often built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and other tourist attractions. Some casinos are owned by Native American tribes, and some are operated by government agencies. Some states have legalized casinos, while others have prohibited them or restricted their operations to land-based locations.

In the United States, casinos are most often located in cities with large populations and high income levels. Las Vegas is the largest casino city, followed by Atlantic City and Chicago. The number of casino locations is increasing rapidly as more states legalize casinos, and many cities are competing to host them in order to benefit from the economic stimulius provided by casino tourism.

The most common casino games are roulette, blackjack, and poker. Most casinos have at least one table of each of these games. Some casinos also offer baccarat, craps, and other table games, as well as video slots and other machine-based games.

Most casino games have a certain degree of skill, and players can optimize their strategy to increase their chances of winning. The house edge is the advantage that the casino has over the player, and it can be calculated mathematically. It is most prominent in games that involve betting against the house, such as baccarat and chemin de fer, but it also exists in games where players play against each other, such as poker.