A casino is an establishment for certain types of gambling. Most casinos are built near or combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, and other tourist attractions. In the United States, there are 40 state-licensed casinos. In addition, several Native American tribes operate casinos in their jurisdictions. The largest casinos in the world are located in Las Vegas, Nevada, while others are spread throughout the country.

The casino industry relies on the physics of probability to create an expectation of long-term profit for the house, referred to as the “house edge”. Games with a skill element may offer a reduced house advantage under optimal play (without the use of advanced strategies such as card counting). Casinos generally earn money via a commission, known as a rake, from each hand of poker or similar games where players compete against one another.

Despite their large profits, casinos are susceptible to cheating and theft by both patrons and employees. To prevent this, most casinos have a physical security force and specialized surveillance departments. Some have also added cameras that monitor the casino floor to detect suspicious or definite criminal activity.

In the US, casinos are primarily owned by local or regional governments, with gaming licenses issued by a state’s regulatory body. There are also federally-licensed casinos in Atlantic City and Chicago. While casinos are a major economic driver in many cities, they do not define them. For example, Las Vegas is not primarily known as a gambling center despite its enormous revenue generated by the casino sector.