A casino (also known as a gaming house or kasino) is an establishment for certain types of gambling. Most casinos offer games such as baccarat, blackjack, roulette, craps, and video poker. Some casinos also offer keno and bingo.

Unlike other forms of gambling, which are often anonymous, casinos attract customers by offering an experience that appeals to the senses. The lights, music, and the clinking clang of coins during payouts are designed to create an immersive environment. The layout of the casino is carefully choreographed so that wandering patrons are enticed by new gambling options. The machines are arranged in a mazelike fashion, and the soundscape is manipulated so that the noises of the slot machines blend with the ambient sound.

As a business, casinos need to make a profit in order to survive. As such, the mathematical odds are always against players in any casino game. This advantage is called the house edge. To combat this, casinos employ a number of techniques to encourage gamblers to spend more money than they can afford to lose.

Most states have laws regulating the operation of casinos. Despite these regulations, many casinos operate outside the law. While some state governments are actively working to regulate the industry, others have taken a hands-off approach. In the United States, most casino gambling occurs in Las Vegas. It was not until the 1980s that the industry began to spread beyond Nevada. Today, 40 states have legalized some form of casino gambling.