A casino is a place where people gamble by using cash or other types of credit. These establishments also offer food and drink. In some countries, casinos are regulated by law and must meet certain standards. They are often combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, shopping malls, and other tourist attractions. The term casino may also refer to an arcade game or a video game.

Gambling, in all its forms, has been part of human culture for millennia. While musical shows, lighted fountains and elaborate hotels help draw in the crowds, the majority of casino profits come from games of chance. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette, baccarat and other table games provide the basis for the billions of dollars in earnings casinos rake in every year.

In the past, a visit to a casino meant stepping into a world of shady dealings and illegal activities. Mobster money flowed freely into Reno and Las Vegas, giving the casinos a seamy reputation. But legitimate businessmen were reluctant to get involved, afraid of the bad publicity and taint on their reputations. Instead, the owners looked to attract high rollers and other wealthy patrons with offers of luxury suites, top-notch restaurants, spas and other amenities.

Beneath the glitz of flashing lights and free drinks, casinos are built on a bedrock of mathematics, engineered to slowly bleed the patrons of their cash. And while mathematicians have tried for centuries to turn the tables by applying their knowledge of probability and game theory, there is one certainty in gambling: The house always wins.