Casino is a gambling establishment that provides games of chance, in which customers gamble by betting money or something else of value. A casino is also a place of entertainment, and most casinos are designed around noise, lights and excitement. Something about the atmosphere of a casino seems to encourage people to try to cheat, steal or scam their way into winning a jackpot, which is why casinos spend a large amount of time and effort on security.

Most casino games are based on luck or skill, with the exception of video poker and some table games. Most casino card games, such as blackjack and poker, have mathematically determined odds that guarantee the house a small profit over players, which is called the house edge. Other popular casino games include craps, roulette and baccarat. Some casinos also offer keno and bingo.

Some casinos have a high-end feel, while others are designed with more of a family-friendly focus. A few casinos specialize in specific types of gaming, such as asian-style games like sic bo and fan-tan. The majority of casinos are located in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, though more are opening up throughout the United States and elsewhere, including some at racetracks (racinos) and even cruise ships.

Because of the large amounts of money that are handled within a casino, there is a strong temptation for both patrons and employees to cheat or steal, either in collusion or independently. Security is a major concern for most casinos, and sophisticated technological advances are making it easier to spot cheaters and thieves. For example, chip tracking allows casino supervisors to watch each individual bet made minute by minute; and computerized systems monitor roulette wheels and other games to discover any statistical deviation from their expected results.