A casino, also known as a gambling establishment, is a place where people can play games of chance for money. While elaborate hotels, musical shows and lighted fountains help attract visitors, casinos would not exist without the billions of dollars in profits that come from games such as blackjack, poker, roulette and craps.

Casinos offer gamblers a variety of games, but the best-known is probably Las Vegas’s Bellagio, which became world-famous after appearing in the movie Ocean’s 11. The elegant spa town of Baden-Baden in Germany’s Black Forest region first opened its doors to wealthy Europeans 150 years ago and continues to draw high rollers and royalty from around the world today.

In a casino, the players usually sit around tables designed specifically for the game in question, where croupiers enable the gambling and manage payments. The house edge – the percentage of each bet that the casino expects to retain, on average – can vary from game to game but is always present.

While many people associate casinos with gambling, there are also non-gambling activities that can take place within a casino, such as shopping and dining. The atmosphere is often loud and exciting, with music playing throughout the building and staff circulating to encourage patrons to participate in the games. In addition, casinos typically use bright and sometimes gaudy floor and wall coverings that are thought to increase alertness and stimulate the brain. They also do not display clocks, as it is believed that they cause patrons to lose track of time and gamble longer.