A casino is an establishment where people can place bets on games of chance for money or other rewards. Some casinos offer a variety of games, while others specialize in one or more. In some places, the games offered at a casino are regulated by law. Many casinos also have entertainment or dining venues.

Some casinos have security measures that are designed to catch people who cheat or steal. These include security cameras that can be used to observe patrons and their behavior. There are also employees who watch over table games to ensure that players do not cheat by palming, marking, or switching cards or dice. The large amounts of cash handled within casinos make them vulnerable to fraud, and some people try to take advantage of this.

Casinos can be found throughout the world. In Europe, roulette is the principal gambling game, and casinos reduce its house edge to less than 1 percent to entice big bettors. In America, the economic mainstay is gambling on slot machines and video poker. Casinos are usually located in large cities, where they can draw crowds of tourists, and are often built into hotels or other prominent buildings. They can also be found on American Indian reservations, where they are not subject to state laws against gambling.