A casino is a large building or hall where various games of chance are played. Some casinos offer a full range of gambling activities, while others specialize in specific types of games or have particular ambiances that attract certain types of gamblers. Most modern casinos also include stage shows, restaurants, free drinks and dramatic scenery to enhance the atmosphere. Casinos are most commonly found in the United States, but they are also located in many other countries around the world.

The word casino has a long history and has been used in many different ways. It was first used in the second half of the 19th century to describe a collection of gaming rooms in Monte Carlo, which is still considered the most famous casino in the world. Later, it came to mean any place where gambling was permitted, and the term has been applied to a variety of establishments, including private clubs.

As casinos became more commonplace in the United States, they were often financed by organized crime figures. Mob money infused the new gambling establishments with plenty of cash and helped them overcome their seamy reputation. The mobsters, however, were not satisfied with simply financing the casinos; they also took sole or partial ownership of some and influenced game results with threats and other pressure tactics.

According to a 2005 study by Roper Reports and GfK NOP, the typical casino gambler was a forty-six-year-old woman from an upper-middle class family. These people have enough disposable income to afford the luxuries of gambling, such as meals, hotel rooms, and transportation to the casino. They are also able to play for longer periods of time than younger adults. For this reason, the casinos offer complimentary items, or comps, to encourage them to spend more time at the tables. These may include free hotel rooms, meals, show tickets, or even limo service and airline tickets.