Often referred to as “the casino,” a casino is a building where people can gamble. Casinos are usually built in or near tourist attractions. They often feature dining, shopping, and live entertainment.

Casinos offer gamblers a variety of games of chance, including card games, dice games, slot machines, and dominoes. They also feature casinos for traditional Far Eastern games like Pai Gow and Baccarat.

Some casinos are geared to high rollers, and cater to those who spend more than the average. These casinos also offer incentives to amateur bettors. Some casinos offer reduced-fare transportation to big bettors. High rollers also receive free luxury suites and lavish personal attention.

Casinos are different from lotteries and other forms of gambling. The odds in a casino are always in the house’s favor. This advantage is called a house edge. If the house edge is high, you have a higher chance of losing money at the casino.

In the United States, the biggest concentration of casinos is in Las Vegas Valley. The casino industry continues to grow as more states seek to legalize casinos. In 2005, the average casino gambler was a 46-year-old woman from a household with an above-average income.

Casinos are designed to be distracting. Their lack of windows, clocks, and other features makes them disorienting. They also have bright floor coverings and noise.

Casinos are also designed to be exciting. Some casinos feature a one-way glass, allowing surveillance personnel to look down on casino floors.