A casino is a facility for certain types of gambling. It is also known as a gaming house, gambling hall or gaming palace. Casinos are commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops or tourist attractions. Some casinos are operated by government agencies, while others are owned and run by private companies. The casino industry is regulated by law in many jurisdictions. In addition to standard gambling games, some casinos offer live entertainment and other amenities such as swimming pools or spas.

Although the modern casino looks more like an indoor amusement park for adults, with its dazzling lights, musical shows and elaborate themes, it would not exist without the billions of dollars in profits raked in by the vast majority of its visitors, who play gambling games for real money. In this article we’ll look at the history of the casino, some of its most popular games and how people win and lose at them. We’ll also explore some of the darker side of the business, including how casino owners try to trick gamblers into thinking they can beat the odds by cheating, stealing or scamming them.