A casino is a gambling establishment that offers various types of gambling-related games and services. Casinos are often located in tourist destinations or near hotels and offer a variety of entertainment, dining, and shopping options. However, gambling can be addictive and should be enjoyed in moderation.

There are more than 1,000 casinos in the world, with the United States having the most. The first casinos were built in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and the gaming industry has since spread to other parts of the country and beyond. In the 1980s, casinos also began appearing on American Indian reservations, which are not subject to state antigambling laws.

Modern casinos employ a combination of physical security forces and specialized surveillance departments to deter crime. These departments use closed-circuit television to monitor all activity on the casino floor, and some even have catwalks that allow surveillance personnel to look down directly on players at table games and slot machines through one-way glass.

Casinos usually have a large selection of card and table games. The most popular casino games are blackjack, poker, and craps. Some also have baccarat (called chemin de fer in the United Kingdom and trente et quarante in France), and other traditional Far Eastern games such as sic bo (which was brought to several European and American casinos in the 1990s).

Most casino games provide a long-term advantage for the house or “house”, but some offer skill elements that can reduce this edge or even make it negative. These games are analyzed by mathematically inclined professionals known as gaming mathematicians and game analysts.