A casino is a building where people can gamble and play games of chance. It typically has a large number of gaming tables, including blackjack and roulette.
The word “casino” comes from the Italian term for a small clubhouse where high-ranking members of aristocracy met to socialize. These clubs often served as gambling houses in the 16th century, although it was technically illegal.
Casinos offer a variety of games, including slots, poker, and baccarat. Most have mathematically determined odds that give the casino an advantage over players. This advantage is called the house edge.
There are also a number of other amenities that casinos provide to keep their patrons entertained and content. These can include free food and drink, as well as ATM machines that convert chips into real money.
In the United States, there are more than 1,000 commercial casinos and hundreds of tribal casinos. Many of them feature live poker events and tournaments. The biggest of these tournaments is the World Series of Poker, which is played out of Las Vegas.