A casino, also called a gambling house or gaming palace, is an establishment for certain types of gambling. These include games of chance and skill, in which players place wagers against the house or another player. Some casinos also offer table games, such as blackjack and poker. In addition, some casinos specialize in sports betting and have large areas dedicated to the activity, often with 60 plasma televisions.

Gambling is a popular pastime worldwide and some people make substantial incomes from it. The term casino is most associated with Las Vegas, but there are also casinos located in other major cities around the world and some small towns. In addition, a growing number of state-licensed Native American casinos operate on reservations. Casinos generate billions of dollars each year for private owners, companies, investors, and state and local governments.

The majority of casino games have mathematically determined odds that ensure the house always has a profit, which is usually expressed as a percentage advantage over the players. These odds are calculated by mathematicians and computer programmers who work for the casino industry, known as gaming mathematicians or gaming analysts.

Most casinos are designed to be visually appealing, with bright and sometimes gaudy floor and wall coverings that resemble expensive fabrics. Most are heavily decorated in red, which is believed to stimulate the brain and increase concentration. In order to keep players from losing track of time, there are typically no clocks displayed on casino walls. Casinos have also increased their use of technology to monitor and audit their operations. For example, in the case of poker tables, electronic systems monitor bets minute by minute and alert supervisors to any anomalies; roulette wheels are electronically monitored for any statistical deviation from expected results.