A casino is an establishment for certain types of gambling. The word is a contraction of the Latin cazino, meaning “gambling house”. A modern casino usually includes a full range of table games such as blackjack and roulette, as well as slot machines, poker and video poker. Some casinos also offer keno, bingo and sports betting. Traditionally, casinos were separate entities from hotels and were designed to appeal exclusively to gamblers.

Until recently, most states had made it illegal for private individuals to operate casinos. Although these prohibitions did not stop casino games from being played, they did stifle the growth of the industry. It was not until 1978 that a state allowed casino gambling, and it took another forty-five years for the industry to grow outside of Nevada.

According to research conducted by Gemini Research, among people who acknowledged participation in casino gambling, a majority chose to play slot machines. This was followed by card games, such as blackjack and poker, with a smaller percentage choosing to play other games such as roulette, craps, or gambling on sporting/racing events. A small number of respondents preferred to play bingo and keno.

The financial mainstay of most American casinos is the income derived from slot machines and (since the 1980s) video poker. These devices generate revenue based on their high volume and rapid play, as well as the ability to adjust the machines to achieve specific profit goals. Casinos also generate profits from the sale of chips and drinks, and from the commission paid to dealers who deal cards in poker. In addition, some casinos employ mathematicians who analyze game probabilities and mathematically calculate the expected return to a patron.