A casino is a gambling establishment that allows patrons to wager money on games of chance. Casinos offer a variety of games, including blackjack, craps, roulette, and slot machines. They may also offer hotel rooms, restaurants, non-gambling entertainment, and retail shopping. Casinos are often found in large cities or tourist destinations. Some are owned by governments or Native American tribes. Others are operated by private corporations.

In the United States, casinos are regulated by state laws. They must be licensed to operate and maintain gaming equipment, hire dealers, and pay employees. Some states require casinos to monitor their patrons’ gambling habits and limit the types of games offered. Other states prohibit casinos or limit their operations in other ways.

Unlike online gambling or lottery games, where players are anonymous, casino gambling is more social. Gamblers are surrounded by other people as they play, and casino staff encourage players by shouting encouragement or giving advice. Alcoholic drinks are served freely to gamblers, and casino designers use colors and noise to make players excited and lose track of time. Clocks and windows are rarely used in casino design, because they would alert people to the passage of time and distract from the gambling experience.

Because of the large amounts of cash handled within a casino, both patrons and staff may be tempted to cheat or steal. Casinos have a number of security measures in place to deter this, from cameras to employee checks. In addition, some casinos have specialized technology that automatically supervises the games; for example, roulette wheels and card tables are electronically monitored to detect statistical deviations from expected results.