A casino is a gambling establishment that offers games of chance and skill. Its facilities may include a large gaming area with table games and slot machines, as well as restaurants, bars, retail shops, and hotels. Guests at the casino are typically entertained by live entertainment. Casinos can be found in Las Vegas, Nevada; Atlantic City, New Jersey; and other cities around the world. In addition to slot machines, many casinos offer traditional Far Eastern games such as sic bo, fan-tan, and pai-gow.

Every casino game has a built-in advantage for the house, which is typically less than two percent. The edge gives the casino enough money to cover expenses and generate a profit. Casinos also make money from the vig (vigorish), or rake, which is a percentage of the amount of each bet placed by patrons. In addition, casino profits are increased by the issuance of comps to players, such as free show tickets, buffet food, and rooms.

In the early days of gambling in Nevada, mobsters controlled many of the state’s casinos. They pumped mob cash into Reno and Las Vegas, and they demanded sole or partial ownership of some casinos. Legitimate businessmen were reluctant to get involved in the gambling trade, which had a reputation for illegal activity. But real estate investors and hotel chains saw the potential for casino profits, and they bought out the mobsters. Today, federal laws and a fear of losing a casino’s license at even the slightest hint of mob involvement keep organized crime figures away from the gaming industry.