A casino is a facility that offers various types of gambling activities. While musical shows, lighted fountains and extravagant hotels help draw in visitors, casinos would not exist without games of chance, which generate the billions in profits that make them so lucrative to their owners. These games have mathematically determined odds that guarantee the house a permanent advantage over players (known as expected value). The amount of this edge varies between different types of games, and it can also depend on how skillfully a game is played. In addition to the house edge, casinos earn money via a commission on winning bets called the rake.
The glitz and glamour of casino gambling draws in high rollers from around the world, making it an important part of the economy in many regions. The industry has also generated controversy, particularly over addiction and compulsive gambling. Some casinos are enormous resorts with a wide range of entertainment options, while others specialize in one type of gambling activity. In the latter case, the facility is referred to as a boutique casino.
Gambling in some form has been a part of human culture for millennia. Archeological evidence points to dice being used in China as early as 2300 BC, and card games began to appear in Europe in the 1400s. Most modern casinos feature a variety of table games, such as blackjack, craps and roulette, as well as slot machines and poker. Some also offer live entertainment, with the likes of Frank Sinatra and Celine Dion once holding residency at Caesars’ Circus Maximus Showroom.