If you’ve ever played a game of casino gambling, whether it be a table game like poker or a slot machine, you know that there’s a certain rush that comes with being on the edge of your seat. Even though these games of chance are mostly about luck, the anticipation of what might happen keeps people coming back for more.

A casino is a massive indoor amusement park for adults that makes billions of dollars each year from the millions of bets made by gamblers. While musical shows, lighted fountains and shopping centers draw the crowds, casinos would not exist without games of chance. Slot machines, baccarat, blackjack, roulette and craps are what make casinos tick.

In addition to the noise, lights and action, casinos are designed to be social environments where people interact and cheer each other on. Alcoholic drinks are easily available and stocked in bars located throughout the casino, while nonalcoholic beverages and snacks are free to all players. Waiters and waitresses constantly circulate to take wagers, collect winnings, distribute cash, and hand out complimentary drinks.

Unlike lotteries and Internet gambling, most casino games involve some element of skill. This may be as simple as choosing a number at a roulette wheel, or as complicated as analyzing the odds of hitting a royal flush in video poker. In any event, the use of skill in a casino environment sets it apart from other types of gambling.