A casino, or gambling house, is a place where people can try their luck at gambling. In most instances, the casino will have some form of security to prevent theft and cheating. This may include cameras placed throughout the facility and a staff that watches over patrons. It may also have rules that are in place to prevent players from committing certain types of actions, such as palming or marking cards.

Aside from providing the thrill of winning big, casinos often offer patrons free or discounted food, drinks and lodging to encourage them to return. This is known as comping. The casino also makes money by charging a small percentage of all bets, known as the house edge. This advantage, derived from the mathematics of probability, can vary from game to game but is usually less than two percent.

The history of casinos is closely linked with the rise of organized crime in the United States. Many of the early casinos were funded by mafia gangsters as they sought funds for their illegal rackets. Because of the taint of criminality attached to gambling, legitimate businessmen were reluctant to invest in casinos. This left the mobsters to fund them, and they did so enthusiastically, taking full or partial ownership of some of them as well as controlling many of their operations through intimidation of casino personnel. In addition, mobsters were able to use their clout to influence the outcome of some games, a practice that has been condemned by modern gambling laws.