A casino is a facility for certain types of gambling. Casinos are often built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops and other tourist attractions. Some casinos are purely gambling establishments, while others offer more entertainment-focused amenities such as stage shows and dramatic scenery. A number of states have legalized casino-style games, but many more have banned them or restrict their operations. Many American casinos are located on Native American reservations, which are not subject to state antigambling laws.

Traditionally, a casino was simply a building where gambling activities took place, but modern ones have added a variety of luxuries and amenities to attract customers and increase revenue. These may include buffets, free drinks and even elaborate stage shows. Casinos are also known for their high levels of security. In addition to employing cameras and other technological measures, they enforce security through rules of conduct and behavior. For example, players at card games must keep their cards visible at all times to prevent cheating or collusion.

In the United States, some of the most famous casinos are in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, but they can also be found in cities around the world. Many of these are large, sprawling megacasinos with an amazing array of table games, slot machines and other gambling options. These facilities are often themed, with decorations and other elements designed to evoke the culture of the region or country they represent. They can also feature non-gambling areas such as hotels, restaurants, bars and spas.

Gambling is a popular pastime for millions of people, and casinos have always been places where people can try their luck at winning big money. The first casinos were not very lavish, but as the business grew in the early 20th century, owners sought to attract more people by adding a wide variety of luxuries and entertainment-based amenities. The Hippodrome in London, for example, was opened in 1900 and is one of the oldest and most famous casinos in the world.

While some casinos have a reputation for being glamorous and sophisticated, others have a more seedy, shady image. In the 1950s, for example, organized crime money flowed steadily into Reno and other Nevada towns, where gambling was legalized. Mob figures not only provided the funds, but became personally involved in the businesses and sometimes even took sole or partial ownership of some casinos.

Casinos are often a target of crime, whether from gamblers looking to cheat or steal, or from criminals seeking to profit from the illegal activity taking place there. Because of the large amounts of money handled within their confines, casinos must invest a lot of time and resources in security. These can range from cameras placed throughout the facility to more elaborate systems that allow security workers to watch the entire floor from a remote control room filled with banks of monitors. Many casinos also have rules requiring patrons to wear proper attire, limit their alcohol intake and refrain from using foul language.