A casino is a gambling establishment that allows guests to place wagers on various games of chance. These include baccarat, blackjack, craps, roulette and slot machines. Although modern casinos use a variety of tricks to draw in customers, such as musical shows, lighted fountains and shopping centers, they are still largely a place where people gamble.

While a certain degree of luck is required to win at casino games, many of them are designed with a house advantage that gives the house an overall profit. This advantage, known as the house edge, is a mathematically determined percentage of the money players bet. In games of skill, such as poker, the house also takes a fee, called the rake.

Casinos make a large portion of their money from high rollers, or those who spend a great deal of time and money at the casino. In order to reward these big spenders, casinos offer perks such as free hotel rooms and buffets. Those who gamble a lot of money on large bets may even get free airline tickets and limo service. These perks are often called comps.

The oldest casino in the world is the Casino di Venezia, which opened in 1638 and is set on Venice’s Grand Canals. The casino has a long history of elegance and sophistication, and was once the playground for royalty and European aristocracy. Today it continues to attract wealthy visitors from around the world. It is perhaps best known for its dancing fountains, luxurious accommodations and breath-taking art installations.