A casino (also known as a gaming hall or a gambling house) is a place where people gamble in various ways on events that may or may not happen. In general, a casino offers cash or chips that can be used to place bets on the outcome of various games of chance and skill. Many casinos also offer other forms of entertainment, such as a wide range of entertainment shows.
Some of the largest casinos in the world are enormous, sprawling complexes designed to accommodate every possible taste and desire. They often feature a five-star hotel, Michelin star restaurants, designer shops, and top-billed entertainment shows that run the gamut from high-flying circus acts to superstar musicians topping the Billboard charts.
Most casinos have a mathematical advantage over patrons, which is expressed most accurately by the concept of expected value (or expectation), and is uniformly negative. This edge is not based on luck, but rather on the specific rules and conditions of each game, as well as the particular skill level of the players. Casinos make their money by charging a commission on player bets, commonly called a rake.
In the United States, there are over 1,000 casinos, including more than a dozen in Las Vegas. Casinos are also found on some American Indian reservations, where they are not subject to state anti-gambling laws. In addition, several countries around the world have legalized casino gambling. The majority of these establishments are small, local operations, but a few are large and internationally renowned.
