A casino is a building or room where gambling is permitted. Its design is meant to appeal to the senses, using bright lights and flashing signs to attract gamblers. The casino also offers drinks and food, which patrons can take in a bar or buy at a cafe. The casino’s employees also circulate throughout the premises to provide assistance and answer questions.

The casino industry has grown dramatically in recent years. The industry is regulated in most states by gaming control boards/commissions, which are responsible for creating rules and licensing operators based on their jurisdiction’s gambling laws. Some states also limit the number of casinos to protect consumers from competition and preserve public safety.

Casinos are most often located in urban areas, where they draw visitors from the surrounding region and from other parts of the world. The majority of casino gambling is done on slot machines, which are the most popular form of gambling worldwide. Other popular games include blackjack, baccarat, craps, and poker. Many casinos offer traditional Far Eastern games such as sic bo, fan-tan, and pai gow.

People are often tempted to cheat or steal money from casinos, either in collusion with other patrons or on their own. The large amounts of money handled by casinos make them susceptible to these types of problems, and most have elaborate security measures. These measures can range from cameras to security personnel whose job is to spot suspicious behavior. Casinos also use routines and patterns to discourage theft, such as requiring players to keep their hands visible at all times.