A casino, or a gaming house, is an establishment where people can play gambling games. Some casinos are standalone buildings, while others are part of larger resorts or hotels. In the United States, casinos are typically licensed by state governments and must comply with local antigambling laws. Casinos are often located in areas with high concentrations of tourists.

Gambling is an industry that generates billions of dollars every year in profits for casinos and their owners. While shopping centers, musical shows, lighted fountains and lavish hotels are all important draws to gamblers, casinos would not exist without the games of chance that bring them in. Slot machines, roulette wheels and blackjack tables all offer a built in mathematical advantage for the casino; even small advantages add up to millions of bets per day. Those bets earn the casino a small percentage of each wager, or vig, which is then used to pay winners and collect losing bets.

Modern casinos use technology to prevent fraud and ensure the honesty of their games. Video cameras monitor the casino floor, and electronic systems monitor the behavior of individual players to identify any suspicious activity. Many casinos also have specialized departments that conduct regular statistical tests of their games to discover any significant deviation from the expected results.

While some people are addicted to gambling, the vast majority of people who visit casinos do so for entertainment and excitement. As an industry, casinos are a major contributor to the tourism industry, which in turn drives economic growth and creates jobs. Nevertheless, casinos have some downsides: they can depress property values in surrounding neighborhoods and cause local businesses to shift money away from other activities. In addition, the costs of treating compulsive gambling and lost productivity from gambling addicts can more than offset any net gains for a community from a casino.