A casino is an establishment for gambling. Casinos offer a variety of gambling activities, including slot machines, roulette, blackjack, poker and craps. Some casinos also feature live entertainment. In some countries, casinos are regulated by law. In others, the legality of casino gambling is left up to individual cities or states.

This article discusses casinos in general, including the types of games offered and their history. It also covers security, the dark side of the casino business, and how to avoid getting taken advantage of.

The modern casino is much like an indoor amusement park for adults, with musical shows, lighted fountains, shopping centers and lavish hotels attracting visitors and profits for the owners. But the bulk of a casino’s profits come from games of chance. Slot machines, poker, baccarat, keno and other games of chance account for billions of dollars in revenues each year.

Because of the large amounts of money that are handled within a casino, both patrons and staff may be tempted to cheat or steal, either in collusion or independently. For this reason, casinos employ a range of security measures. On the floor, pit bosses and table managers supervise the tables with a wide view of the patrons and can spot blatant attempts at palming, marking or switching dice or cards. In addition, all dealers are monitored by a higher-up person, who keeps track of their activity and notes any unusual patterns that could indicate cheating.