A casino is a gambling establishment that offers customers the opportunity to win money by gambling. They are typically located in areas that offer a variety of other entertainment activities, such as restaurants, hotels, retail shopping, and cruise ships. They also offer a variety of games such as blackjack, poker, roulette, and slot machines.

In the United States alone, 51 million people—a group that represents a quarter of all Americans over 21—visited a casino in 2002. Worldwide, the number is probably double that.

Although some casinos are small and intimate, others have grown to be massive megacasinos that feature elegant decor, a mindboggling array of games, and many other amenities. They may even include hotels, restaurants, non-gambling game rooms, and bars.

From the glamorous casinos in Las Vegas and Atlantic City to the dingy pai gow parlors of New York’s Chinatown, casinos draw gamblers from around the world. They are often crowded with tourists, who fill the shuttle buses that run 24 hours a day to and from Las Vegas.

Casinos are a major source of income for their owners. They make money by taking a percentage of the bets made by patrons—the amount varies according to the game, but it is usually lower than two percent. This “vig” is what allows the casinos to build impressive hotels, fountains, pyramids, towers, and replicas of famous landmarks. They also employ security personnel to keep tabs on the patrons, preventing them from engaging in any behavior that violates the rules of the casino.