A casino is a place where people can play games of chance for money. Some casinos offer a wide range of gambling activities, such as blackjack, poker and roulette. Most of these games have mathematically determined odds that give the house a significant advantage over the players. This advantage is called the house edge. In some cases, the house takes a commission from the players’ winnings, which is known as the rake. Casinos also give out free goods or services to some of their customers, known as comps.

Although casinos are often associated with glitzy nightclubs, shopping centers and elaborate themes, they wouldn’t exist without the games of chance that bring in billions of dollars in profits every year. The most popular casino games are slot machines, craps, baccarat and roulette. Many casinos also offer traditional Far Eastern games, such as sic bo and fan-tan.

Gambling almost certainly predates recorded history, with primitive proto-dice and carved knuckle bones found in archaeological sites. However, the casino as a place where people could find a variety of ways to gamble under one roof did not develop until the 16th century, when European aristocrats would gather in places called ridotti. These were essentially private clubs where gambling was the primary activity.