A casino is a building or room where social amusements, such as games of chance, are played. The word is derived from the Latin cardensis, meaning “card game.” The modern casino has many forms. It can be a stand-alone structure, an entertainment complex, or a resort. A famous example is the Monte Carlo Casino in Monaco, which is considered a major source of income for the principality.

When most Americans think of a casino, they picture the Las Vegas megaresorts with their neon lights and games of chance. But the casino concept is much broader than this. Merriam Webster defines a casino as any place that offers social amusements, especially gambling. In the United States, casinos are licensed and regulated by state governments. They are usually owned by individuals or corporations. They may be public or private and may or may not offer food services.

Like any other business in a capitalist society, the goal of casinos is to make money. Successful ones rake in billions of dollars each year for the companies, investors, and Native American tribes that own them. They also earn millions in profits from the countless players who gamble there.

Because of the large amounts of money involved, casinos are prone to cheating and theft by both patrons and staff. To counter this, they employ a variety of security measures. Some casinos use special chips with microcircuitry that enable them to monitor bets minute by minute, and others use video cameras to supervise their roulette wheels and dice tables.