A casino is a building or room where gambling games are played. The most famous casino is the one at Monte Carlo, in Monaco. Other important casinos are in Las Vegas, Nevada; Atlantic City, New Jersey; and Chicago, Illinois. In the United States, the most common gambling game is poker. Many people find the thrill of winning money from a casino to be a highly addictive experience, although this type of gambling can also be a destructive habit.

In the United States, casinos are generally licensed by state regulators and are operated by private corporations or by sovereign tribal governments. The number of legal casinos has increased since the late 1970s, when some American Indian reservations changed their antigambling laws. The emergence of the internet and the ability to manage electronic cards has allowed more players to access casinos remotely, a trend that is expected to continue.

Many casinos use advanced technology to enhance security and to supervise gaming. In some examples, betting chips have built-in microcircuitry to monitor and report the amount wagered minute-by-minute; roulette wheels are electronically monitored to discover any statistical deviation from their expected values; and video cameras record the faces of players in poker tables and slot machines.

In addition to games of chance, some casinos offer other types of entertainment. These may include a stage for live entertainment, a nightclub, or a restaurant. Many large casinos have a sportsbook, which offers horse racing and other sports wagering.