A casino is a building or room in which gambling games are played. In modern times, casinos are usually integrated into hotels and have a wide range of gambling activities. The most famous of these are the ones located in Las Vegas, Nevada, although there are also casinos located in many other places around the world. The casino industry is a major source of employment in the Las Vegas area.
In the United States, casinos are regulated under state law and are generally operated by private businesses. The exceptions are those on American Indian reservations, which are exempt from most state anti-gambling laws. Casinos are large entertainment facilities, and some offer dining, shopping, and other amenities. They are designed to attract patrons from a wide geographic area and to accommodate them in comfortable and attractive surroundings.
Many of the games in a casino are of chance, with some having an element of skill. The mathematics of casino games give the house a mathematical expectation of winning, so it is rare for players to win more than they lose on any given day. To compensate for this, casinos often offer high bettors extravagant inducements, such as free spectacular entertainment and luxury living quarters.
In the 21st century casinos have been expanding internationally and changing their image to appeal to a more upscale clientele. For example, they have started to feature more Asian games such as sic bo (which became popular in several European and American casinos during the 1990s), fan-tan, and pai gow poker.
