A casino is an establishment for certain types of gambling. Casinos are often combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, cruise ships, and other tourist attractions. They may also be known as a gaming house or a gambling hall. In some countries, the term is also used for a group of casinos located in one location, especially in large cities or in tourist destinations.

Gambling is a popular pastime in many countries and there are a number of ways to gamble, including lottery, sports, and casino games. Casinos offer a variety of casino games, and are generally heavily regulated to prevent cheating. Many states require that people be at least 21 years old to gamble in a casino, although the legal age varies by state and type of gambling.

Modern American casinos make most of their profits from gambling, but they also include other entertainment features such as musical shows and fine dining. The casinos are heavily regulated and have very high levels of security. In addition to a physical security force, they usually have a specialized surveillance department with cameras that monitor every table, window and doorway. This system is sometimes called the eye in the sky, and it can be adjusted by security staff to focus on suspicious patrons or to monitor a specific game. The cameras are also recorded, so if a crime or a robbery occurs the security team can check the video for evidence.