A casino is an establishment for certain types of gambling. Many casinos are attached to or combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, and other tourist attractions, and some offer live entertainment such as stand-up comedy or musical performances. Casinos are also known for providing a wide variety of gaming options, including slots and table games.

The term casino may refer to an actual building or a virtual online venue. In the United States, casinos can be found in cities such as Las Vegas and Atlantic City, as well as on Indian reservations. Many states have legalized casinos or amended their laws to allow them. Others have banned them, while some have strict rules and regulations.

Casinos make money because every game has a built in advantage for the house, which can be small (less than two percent). This edge, added to millions of bets placed by casino patrons each year, provides enough income to justify extravagant hotel towers, fountains and giant statues.

Something about the nature of gambling encourages people to cheat and steal, and casinos spend a lot of time and money on security. Elaborate surveillance systems provide a high-tech eye-in-the-sky, and cameras monitor each table and every window and doorway. Slot machines are computerized and monitored regularly to discover statistical deviations from expected results.

Casinos reward loyal players with free goods and services, such as rooms at their hotels, meals, tickets to shows, limo service and airline tickets. These benefits are called comps. The amount of money you spend in a casino and the stakes you play at determine whether you will receive comps.