A casino (from the Latin for “gambling house”) is an establishment for certain types of gambling. Casinos are often combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and other tourist attractions. Some casinos feature live entertainment such as stand-up comedy or musical acts. In some countries, such as the United States, casinos are licensed and regulated by state governments. The casino industry is a major source of employment in some cities.

Beneath the varnish of flashing lights and free cocktails, a casino is built on a bedrock of mathematics engineered to slowly bleed its patrons of cash. For years, mathematically inclined minds have tried to turn the tables on this rigged game by using their knowledge of probability and game theory. But while the physics of winning at slots and the rules of blackjack have been studied extensively, no one has yet to crack the code of a rigged casino.

For every bet that a gambler makes, the casino has a set mathematical expectation of winning, which is called the house edge. Because of this, it is very rare for a casino to lose money on a single game. To make up for this, the house offers a variety of inducements to big bettors in the form of free spectacular entertainment, luxury living quarters, and reduced-fare transportation and hotel rooms.

Casinos also entice small bettors with comps, or complimentary gifts, such as food and drink, and merchandise. They have been known to put looser slot machines near popular table games like craps, which attract large crowds of players, and to place high-paying machines in areas with the most foot traffic.