A casino, also known as a gaming house or a gambling establishment, is a place where people can gamble. Most casinos offer a variety of gambling games. Some are based entirely on chance and others require skill. In addition to gambling, many casinos have restaurants and entertainment venues.

Historically, casino games were played by a privileged few, but have since become available to the general public. Several factors contribute to this, including technological advances and changes in laws and attitudes toward gambling. Casinos have gained popularity worldwide and, in the United States, are regulated by state governments. The most famous American casinos are in Las Vegas and Atlantic City. The first European casino was opened in Monte Carlo in 1863, and has been a major source of income for Monaco ever since.

Most casinos are supervised by a team of gaming mathematicians and analysts. These professionals determine the house edge and variance for each game. They also develop systems to identify players who are abusing the system. In order to prevent cheating, most casinos use video surveillance to monitor the casino floor. Some casinos have catwalks above the casino floor that allow surveillance personnel to look down through one-way glass directly onto the tables and machines below.

Today, a casino is a multifaceted resort that includes five-star hotels, Michelin star restaurants, high-end shops and top billed entertainment shows featuring the latest celebrity artists to hit the Billboard charts. The colossal Foxwoods in Connecticut, for example, is the second largest casino in America and features 380 table games, 6,300 slot machines and an awe-inspiring theater that has played host to such legendary entertainers as Frank Sinatra and Rod Stewart.