A casino is a place where people play games of chance and skill. In addition to being a venue for gambling, casinos often house restaurants, bars and stages for live entertainment. Successful casinos bring in billions of dollars each year for the companies, investors, Native American tribes and local governments that own them. They also provide jobs and tax revenues.

Some of the most famous casinos in the world are located in Las Vegas, although there are also many thriving operations in Europe and elsewhere. Modern casinos are designed to stimulate the senses and encourage gambling. They often feature bright colors and gaudy patterns on the floor and wall coverings. Red is especially popular as it helps to distract the eyes and make people lose track of time. Many casinos do not even display clocks.

Table games, such as blackjack, poker and craps, are a major draw for gamblers. In the past, casinos often offered free hotel rooms, meals and show tickets to big spenders. These perks are known as comps. Nowadays, casinos are choosier about who they give their comps to. They focus on high rollers, who spend far more than average and generate a large percentage of their profits. These gamblers are given special rooms and other perks that can amount to thousands of dollars in value.

Despite their glitz and glamour, casinos can be dangerous places. In the past, they were often run by organized crime figures who financed their operations with money earned from illegal drug dealing and other rackets. Many of these gangsters became so involved with the casinos that they took over management and sometimes even owned them outright.