A casino (also called a gambling house or a gaming establishment) is a place where people can play various games of chance for real money. Some casinos are also known for hosting live entertainment, such as stand-up comedy, concerts or sports events. Casinos are usually located in cities with a high volume of tourists or in resorts and cruise ships.

Despite their lavish theme parks, shopping centers and lighted fountains, modern casinos would not exist without games of chance. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps and keno are just some of the games that earn casinos the billions of dollars in profits they generate each year. Each game has a built in statistical advantage for the casino, and this slight edge generates enough money to justify building elaborate hotels, glitzy restaurants and replicas of famous landmarks.

In addition to electronic surveillance, many casinos employ a number of other security measures. For example, some use catwalks above the gaming floor to allow security personnel to look down on players through one way glass. Casinos also offer comps to players, which are free goods or services provided by the casino based on the amount of time and money a player spends there. These can include hotel rooms, meals, show tickets, limo service and airline tickets.

While something about gambling seems to inspire cheating and stealing, the vast majority of casino patrons are just trying their luck at winning a jackpot. Even so, studies suggest that casino revenue represents a shift in spending away from other forms of local entertainment and that the cost of treating problem gamblers more than offsets any economic benefits.