A casino is a facility for certain types of gambling. Most casinos are combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, and other tourist attractions. Some casinos also have live entertainment. The term may also refer to the building itself, or to an establishment where gambling is legalized.

Many state governments regulate casino gambling. Some states prohibit casino gambling entirely, while others endorse it to some extent and license operators to conduct business within their borders. Some countries, such as the United Kingdom, have legalized and regulated casino gambling.

Casinos make money by giving gamblers free food and drinks, comping them for their losses, and taking a percentage of their bets, known as the house edge or vigorish. In games of pure chance, such as craps, roulette and blackjack, the house always has a mathematical advantage over the players. In games where skill is involved, such as poker, the house has a smaller edge than in slot machines.

Something about gambling (probably the presence of large amounts of money) encourages people to cheat, steal and scam their way into a jackpot. That’s why casinos spend a great deal of time, effort and money on security.

Many casino employees are trained to spot suspicious betting patterns and other signs of cheating. In addition, some casinos have catwalks that allow surveillance personnel to look directly down through one-way glass at the games below. Casinos also use chips instead of cash to deter robbery, as the chips are less likely to be tampered with.