A casino is an establishment for certain types of gambling. Casinos are usually built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and other tourist attractions. In the United States, casinos are regulated by state law. Some are privately owned, while others are operated by Native American tribes. The term casino may also refer to a gaming room or a group of rooms for games like poker, roulette, and blackjack. Some casinos are open 24 hours, and many have a variety of dining options.

Gambling in casinos is a form of entertainment, but it is also an industry that generates significant revenue. Most casinos have security measures in place to prevent cheating or stealing by patrons and employees. Security cameras, for example, are common throughout casino floors. In addition, some casinos have catwalks that allow surveillance personnel to look down on gamblers from above.

In games that require skill, the house has a statistical advantage over players; this is known as the house edge. The house edge for card games, such as blackjack and video poker, is generally less than 1 percent. In games where players compete against each other, such as poker, the casino earns money through a commission called the rake.

The first known casino was the Casino de Monte-Carlo, which opened in 1863. It was a popular destination for European royalty and aristocracy. Today, it is still considered one of the most prestigious and elegant casinos in the world.