A casino is an establishment for gambling. It may include gaming tables, and may also be combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, and entertainment venues. Casinos earn billions of dollars each year for their owners, investors, and operators, and provide employment to many people. State and local governments also reap tax revenues from casinos. In addition to games of chance, some casinos offer skill-based games such as poker and blackjack that involve an element of strategy.

Most casino games have a mathematically determined advantage for the house, which is called the “house edge”. In games with a skill element, players can reduce this advantage by learning basic strategy. People who achieve this are known as advantage players.

In the twentieth century, casinos expanded to land-based locations throughout the world. In the United States, several states changed their laws in the 1980s to permit casino gambling. Most of these were built as megaresorts on the Las Vegas Strip, but some are located in smaller cities and towns. The growth of the casino industry has led to a decrease in property values in surrounding neighborhoods.

In the twenty-first century, casinos have become more selective about who they allow to gamble. They focus their investments on high rollers, who have the greatest potential to spend large amounts of money. These gamblers are often rewarded with comps, such as free luxury suites and lavish personal attention from casino employees. In addition, they are sometimes allowed to gamble in private rooms away from the main casino floor.