A casino is a gambling establishment that offers customers the opportunity to win money by playing games of chance. Unlike a regular gaming house, which is usually family-oriented and has low table limits, casinos are designed for high rollers who spend large sums of money. These casinos are often built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, cruise ships and other tourist attractions. Some also feature live entertainment.

There are many different types of casino games, including poker, blackjack, baccarat and roulette. Some of them are played on a computer, while others require the use of a physical deck of cards. Some casinos also offer sports betting and other forms of gambling.

The largest concentration of casino establishments is in Las Vegas, which is known as the gaming capital of the world. Other major casino centers include Atlantic City, New Jersey and Chicago. In the United States, there are over 30 licensed and regulated casinos. Casinos are primarily owned and operated by private companies. The largest casino corporation is Caesars Entertainment, which operates several famous casinos on the Las Vegas Strip and elsewhere in the United States.

Because of the large amount of money handled within a casino, security is a key issue. Casinos have numerous security measures in place to prevent theft and cheating by patrons and employees. These measures include video surveillance, access control and other electronic means of monitoring activity within the facility. In addition, casino employees are trained to spot suspicious behavior and to take appropriate action.

To minimize the risk of losing real money, most casinos allow patrons to play with chips instead of cash. This allows players to keep track of their winnings and losses more easily. It also helps the casino monitor how much money is entering and leaving the establishment. In addition, the use of chips eliminates the need to change currency in and out of the casino. This practice also reduces the possibility of stolen funds.

Some critics argue that casinos do not benefit the local economy. They say they shift spending away from other forms of entertainment and that the money spent on treating compulsive gamblers offsets any economic gains from casino revenues. Additionally, they argue that casino profits come from addictive gambling, rather than from tourists.

Despite these risks, casinos are profitable businesses. Most offer free food and drinks to keep customers in the building, as well as a variety of other inducements. For example, high-spending players may receive free hotel rooms and limo service, while lesser players will be offered reduced-fare transportation and other perks.

Historically, casinos were run by organized crime syndicates, such as the Mafia, and were located in cities with established gambling laws. However, as real estate investors and hotel chains began to see the potential profits of casinos, they bought out the mobs and opened their own facilities. Today, mob involvement in the running of casinos is rare. Many casino owners are either wealthy businessmen or celebrities, and the mob does not have the resources to compete with these massive enterprises.