A casino, also known as a gambling house or a gaming house, is an establishment offering patrons the opportunity to gamble for money. Casinos are most often found associated with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, cruise ships and other tourist attractions. They usually feature gaming machines and table games such as blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and poker. They may also offer sports betting and other forms of entertainment.
A number of cities around the world have casinos, including Las Vegas, which is famous for its dazzling array of high-roller rooms and other glamorous gambling dens. Other well-known casinos include Monte Carlo, featured in Hollywood movies such as Ocean’s 11 and 21, and Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands.
Casinos make their money by charging a fee or a percentage of the winnings to players who place bets. This fee is sometimes called the vig or rake. In addition, some casinos earn revenue from the sale of food and drinks to players, and from the rental of casino space for events such as concerts or conventions.
There are three major categories of casino games: Gaming machines, table games, and random number games. Gaming machines, such as slot machines, allow players to compete against the house with minimal involvement from a casino employee. Table games, such as blackjack or craps, involve a small number of players competing against one another; the role of the casino is to ensure fair play and maintain order by employing croupiers to manage the game.