A casino, also known as a gaming house, is an establishment for certain types of gambling. In some jurisdictions, casinos are licensed by government agencies and offer a variety of games and services. Some are combined with hotels, restaurants and/or other tourist attractions, while others stand alone. Often, they are a significant source of revenue for their host cities and regions.

Casinos are primarily established to serve patrons interested in playing casino games for money. The games offered typically include card games like blackjack and poker, dice-based games such as craps and roulette, and electronic slot machines. Some casinos are more sophisticated in their technology and employ computerized systems to supervise player behavior and game results. For example, casino chips have built-in microcircuitry that interacts with computers to oversee wagering amounts minute-by-minute and to discover any anomalies; roulette wheels are monitored electronically for any statistical deviations from their expected performance.

While a few places are almost defined by their casinos (Monte Carlo in Monaco is an obvious example), most are standalone institutions that cater to the gambling interests of a particular clientele. For example, the elegant spa town of Baden-Baden was a popular destination for European royalty and aristocracy 150 years ago, when it first opened its doors to the public; these days, its casinos are among the world’s most extravagantly outfitted.

In the United States, casinos are generally found in cities that are renowned for tourism or have a large population of people with discretionary income to gamble. The largest concentration of casinos is in the Las Vegas Valley, followed by Atlantic City and Chicago.