A casino, also known as a gambling house or a gaming house, is an establishment where people can gamble. Casino games include various types of slot machines, table games, and card games. Some casinos also offer free drinks and food to players. A casino’s profitability depends on the amount of money it can attract and keep, as well as the percentage of its customers that return. It may also give out complimentary items, such as rooms and meals, to loyal patrons. This is called comping.
The casino as an entertainment venue originated in the 16th century, during a gambling craze in Europe. Rich Italian noblemen would hold parties at their country estates, called ridotti, where they could play a variety of games. Technically, these were illegal gambling houses, but they were rarely bothered by the authorities.
In the United States, the first legal casinos opened in Atlantic City in 1978, and in the 1980s, they began appearing on American Indian reservations, which are not subject to state antigambling laws. In recent years, new casinos have opened in many other cities and towns around the United States. Some are built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and other tourist attractions.
The casino industry has a high incidence of addiction and a negative impact on local economies, with studies showing that a large proportion of casino profits come from addictive gamblers. Critics claim that casinos shift spending from other forms of entertainment and that the cost of treating problem gambling and lost productivity offset any economic gains they bring to a community.