A Casino is a building where people can gamble and play games of chance. They are often combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and other tourist attractions. In the United States, casinos are regulated by state governments and gambling control boards/commissions. As a general rule, the minimum age to gamble in a casino is 21.

The largest type of Casino is in Las Vegas, but there are also a number of large Indian casinos and smaller operations elsewhere in the country. The most common gambling activity in a Casino is playing slot machines and table games, but some offer pari-mutuel betting on horse races and other events.

Casinos make money by giving a small advantage to the house in all the games they offer. This edge can be as low as two percent, but over millions of bets it adds up to a substantial sum of money. This money is used to pay for everything from fountains and towers to elaborate hotel rooms and stage shows.

In addition to offering a variety of gaming options, Casinos also feature other activities such as golf courses, nightclubs, spas and karaoke. Many also have sports books and racetracks.

While anyone over the age of 18 can legally gamble in a casino, most patrons are older adults from households with above-average incomes. According to a 2005 study by Roper Reports GfK NOP and TNS, the typical casino gambler is a forty-six-year-old woman with a high school diploma. Something about the glitz, glamour and huge sums of money found in casinos attracts certain types of people who might otherwise not gamble.