A casino is a facility for certain types of gambling. Casinos are often combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and cruise ships. In some countries, casinos are licensed and regulated by government authorities. Some casinos offer only table games, while others specialize in slot machines or other electronic gaming devices. Some casinos also host live entertainment events.

A famous example is the Monte Carlo Casino, built in 1863, which still operates as a major source of income for the principality of Monaco. In the United States, casinos are primarily located in states that allow gambling or are on American Indian reservations. Casinos are also commonly found on riverboats and in some nations in South America.

In most casino games, players compete against the house or the “banker,” with a chance of winning money based on their skill and luck. In addition, some casinos have a social element, wherein the players may interact with other patrons and dealers. Casinos usually employ security measures to prevent cheating, such as cameras, and to monitor the behavior of gamblers.

Most casinos have tables for the most popular casino games, such as roulette and blackjack. Some have a variety of other games, such as baccarat and fan-tan. In the United States, casinos make most of their money from slot machines and video poker, with the house taking a fixed percentage of the total bets. Other sources of revenue for casinos include the rake (commission) from poker and other card games.