Casino (also known as a gaming establishment or a gambling hall) is a place where people can play various games of chance for money. Games that can be played in a casino include craps, roulette, baccarat, blackjack, and video poker. The house has a mathematical advantage over players in all of these games, which can be measured as the house edge. Casinos may also give out complimentary items to gamblers, such as drinks and food. This is called comping.
The casino business model relies on attracting and keeping customers through a variety of means, including offering comps, promoting special events, and providing lavish entertainment. The majority of casinos are located in Nevada, and the city of Las Vegas is world-famous for its large and opulent resorts and casinos. There are also casinos on Indian reservations, which are exempt from state antigambling laws. In addition, casino-style game machines are sometimes installed at racetracks to create racinos.
Most casinos are heavily regulated and have high security. Many have catwalks above the casino floor, from which surveillance personnel can look down directly on players at table games and slot machines. In 2005, the average casino gambler was a forty-six-year-old female from a household with an above-average income.