A casino, also known as a gaming house or gambling establishment, is an establishment for certain types of gambling. Modern casinos are often combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and other tourist attractions. Some casinos are stand-alone buildings; others are built within or attached to hotels, resorts, or cruise ships.

In the United States, casinos are massive complexes that draw in billions of dollars each year for their owners, investors, corporations, and Native American tribes. They employ thousands of people and have become a major source of revenue for the cities, states, and regions where they operate.

Most modern casinos are heavily regulated. Their success depends on the honesty and integrity of their patrons as well as the security measures in place to deter crime. Typical casino security includes a physical force that patrols the premises and a specialized surveillance department with sophisticated cameras able to watch every table, window, and doorway simultaneously. These cameras, nicknamed the eye in the sky, can be adjusted to focus on suspicious activity.

A casino’s primary source of income comes from games of chance. Slot machines, blackjack, poker, roulette, craps, and keno are the most popular games played inside casinos. Each of these games has its own distinct rules and strategies to maximize winnings. Casinos use various tactics to attract gamblers, including dazzling lighting and music, celebrity performers, and a variety of food and drink options. However, there is one certainty when it comes to gambling: the house always wins.