A casino is an establishment for gambling. It is a large business, and many casinos are associated with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, cruise ships, and other tourist attractions. Casinos are also known for hosting live entertainment events such as concerts and stand-up comedy shows, and for their sports betting facilities.

In modern usage, the term casino is almost always used to refer to a full-service gaming facility offering a wide variety of games and entertainment options. These can include table and card games such as blackjack, craps, roulette, and baccarat, as well as slot machines and other electronic gaming devices. In some cases, casinos may offer a mix of these types of games and may also offer tournament play.

The games played in casinos can be classified as either skill-based or luck-based. The former includes games such as blackjack and Spanish 21, in which the player can decrease the house edge by learning basic strategy. The latter category includes games such as baccarat and poker, in which the casino makes a profit by taking a percentage of each pot or charging an hourly fee for playing time.

The most famous casino in the world is the Belle Epoque-style Monte Carlo Casino on the Mediterranean coast of Monaco. Its opulent surroundings and legendary game selection have made it the subject of numerous books and films, including Ocean’s Eleven. Other iconic casinos include the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, the Bellagio in Paris, and the Kurhaus in Dortmund, Germany. These ultra-modern and palatial casinos feature five-star hotel accommodations, Michelin star restaurants, designer boutiques, and top-billed entertainment events ranging from high-flying circus acts to the latest musician concerts topping Billboard charts.