A casino, also known as a gaming house or a gambling establishment, is a facility where people can gamble. Modern casinos offer a variety of games such as poker, blackjack, craps, roulette, and slot machines. Unlike home games, where players compete against one another, in casino games players place bets against the house. A croupier, sometimes called a pit boss, runs the game. Casinos are also known for offering free drinks and food to players, and for giving players comps based on their spending habits.
In the United States, casinos are generally located in states that allow casino gambling. Some casinos are operated by major hotel chains or by independent operators. Many American Indian reservations have casinos, which are not subject to state antigambling laws. In the 1980s, casino gambling began to spread worldwide as countries liberalized their gambling laws.
Casinos make money by taking advantage of the statistical edge that exists in every casino game. This edge is typically very small, less than two percent, but it adds up over the millions of bets placed by patrons each year. This edge is also referred to as the vigorish or rake. In some cases, players with sufficient skills can eliminate the inherent long-term disadvantage of a casino game and generate a short-term profit. These players are called advantage players.
Besides the obvious benefit of increased gambling revenues, casinos contribute to local economic development by creating jobs and providing tax revenue. However, critics argue that the negative impact of gambling addiction and the cost of treating problem gamblers offset any economic benefits.