A casino is a place where people pay money to play games of chance. Most of these games are based on luck, although there are some that involve skill and strategy. Regardless of how the games are played, casinos make a profit on the money bettors place in their establishments. These profits give casinos the resources to invest in extravagant fountains, hotels and replicas of famous landmarks. The Bellagio, for example, is renowned for its dancing fountains and high-end dining options, making it one of the most popular casinos in the world.

A casinos profit comes from a mathematical advantage built into every game, known as the house edge. This edge can be relatively small, but it adds up over time as patrons gamble away their money. Casinos also earn money by charging a commission, called the vig or rake, on bets placed on certain games such as poker or slot machines.

To maximize the amount of money players wager, casinos often offer perks that encourage them to spend more. These bonuses, known as comps, may include free drinks while gambling and food. Large spenders are sometimes given free hotel rooms, tickets to shows and even limo service. These are not offered in Europe, where gaming laws prohibit the giving of such perks to entice gamblers.

During the 1940s and 1950s, Mafia money flowed into Reno and Las Vegas casinos. These criminals, who already had plenty of money from drug dealing and extortion, took sole or partial ownership of casinos and used them to launder mob funds. The rise of legitimate businesses with deeper pockets and the threat of federal crackdowns forced mobsters to withdraw their financial support of casinos.