Whether you’re a die-hard gambler or merely curious about the games, a casino is a fun place to visit. Generally, casinos are designed to house gambling activities, but they also often offer other attractions, like restaurants, stage shows and dramatic scenery. From the lavish Bellagio in Las Vegas to the historic Casino de Monte-Carlo and Casino Baden-Baden, there are casinos all over the world.

While it’s true that casino games are based on chance, there is an element of skill involved. Most games have built-in mathematical advantages that ensure the house will win, and casinos earn money from these advantages through a fee called vig or rake (depending on the game). In addition, casinos use bright and sometimes gaudy floor and wall coverings to make patrons lose track of time. Many also have no clocks on their walls because they want players to keep gambling.

In the early days of casino gambling, legitimate businessmen were reluctant to invest in it because it had a seamy reputation linked to organized crime and illegal rackets. But Mafia figures, who had plenty of cash from drug dealing, extortion and other criminal enterprises, saw the potential of casinos. They provided funds to expand and renovate, and they grew to control large chunks of the Las Vegas strip. Today, casino gambling is a huge industry, with millions of people visiting casinos annually.