A casino is a gambling establishment with a wide variety of games where patrons place wagers against the house. It is a type of legalized gambling and is regulated by state law. Casinos earn billions of dollars each year, earning profits for private corporations and investors as well as local and state governments that tax them. In addition, casinos may also offer a variety of other entertainment options such as restaurants, stage shows, and DJs. Some are located in massive resorts and others are found on riverboats and at racetracks as racinos.

A wide range of games are offered in casinos, including dice and card games, roulette, baccarat, blackjack, video poker, and more. Some of these games involve a degree of skill, while others are solely based on chance. The games are played in a lively atmosphere where alcoholic beverages are served and waiters walk the floor, offering drinks and cigarettes to patrons.

Casinos are designed to stimulate the senses, especially sight and sound. Bright and sometimes gaudy floor and wall coverings are used to create an exciting and cheerful ambience. Casino patrons are often hypnotized by the flashing lights, clang of coins falling, and sounds of bells and whistles. Many casinos are decorated in red, a color that has been shown to stimulate the appetite and increase gambling revenue. Something about the ambiance of casinos seems to encourage people to cheat and steal, either in collusion with other patrons or independently. In order to prevent this, casino security personnel are constantly monitoring patrons and games for suspicious activity.