A casino, also known as a gambling house or a kasino (Spanish: kásino), is a place where people can gamble and play games of chance. Modern casinos are highly complex operations involving many moving parts, including computerized systems to track player activity and the outcomes of games, as well as physical security forces. Casinos are often combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and entertainment venues. Some states have legalized casino gambling, while others have prohibited it or limit the number of permitted games.

Regardless of location, casinos are primarily profit-driven. They offer a mix of games that appeal to different types of players, from table and card games such as blackjack and roulette, to sports betting and video poker. Most casinos feature one or more of these games, and some have specialized tables for regional interest or game variants such as sic bo and fan-tan.

As with any business, a casino is vulnerable to criminals and other unauthorized activities. To mitigate this risk, most modern casinos are built with a combination of physical security and a specialized surveillance department. The physical security force patrols the casino floor and responds to calls for assistance or reports of suspicious or definite criminal activity. The surveillance department operates the casino’s closed circuit television system, which is sometimes referred to as the “eye in the sky.”

In addition to these security measures, casinos are designed to be aesthetically appealing and comfortable. They feature a wide range of amenities and services that can appeal to non-gamblers, such as five-star hotel rooms, Michelin-starred restaurants, and designer shops. They can also host a variety of high-profile entertainment events, from top-billed musicians to high-flying circus acts.