A casino is an establishment for certain types of gambling. It may also be known as a gaming house, a gambling hall, or a kasino. Casinos are often built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and other tourist attractions. They may offer a variety of games, such as poker, blackjack, roulette, craps, and slot machines. Some casinos feature live entertainment such as stand-up comedy or concerts.

Gambling is addictive and can cause problems with family, work, and other relationships. Problem gambling is an important issue, and casinos are required to display appropriate signage alerting patrons to the dangers of gambling addiction, as well as provide contact information for organizations that can provide specialized support. Many states include statutory requirements for responsible gambling as part of their casino licensing conditions.

To attract customers, casinos use a variety of techniques. Slot machines, for example, are designed to appeal to the senses of sight and touch: They are brightly lit and make a pleasing noise when they pay out. The sounds of clanging coins are electronically tuned to the musical key of C, which is believed by some to be psychologically appealing to humans.

To encourage gamblers to spend more time and money at their facilities, casinos frequently offer “comps,” or free goods and services. These can include food, drinks, hotel rooms, show tickets, and even limo service and airline tickets for large spenders. Comps are normally based on the amount of time and money spent at the casino.