What Is a Casino?

A casino is a building or room in which gambling games are played. Casino games include a variety of chance-based and skill-based games such as craps, roulette, baccarat, blackjack, and video poker. Some casinos may also offer other forms of gaming, such as keno or bingo. The games are conducted by dealers or croupiers, and the results of some are based on random number generation. The house edge is the statistical advantage that the casino has over the players. It is expressed as a percentage of the total amount wagered, or expected value.

The casino industry is a large source of employment in many countries. Its economic impact is also significant, particularly in areas such as tourism and entertainment. The industry is regulated in most jurisdictions by government-owned or privately operated gaming commissions. In the United States, there are over 1,000 casinos. Most of them are located in Nevada, but some are in other states, such as New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

In addition to traditional gaming tables, some casinos have a wide variety of other entertainment activities, such as concerts and shows. In some cases, these are combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, and retail shopping. In addition, some casinos feature a golf course, racetrack, or other sports facilities. Due to the high volume of currency that is handled within a casino, both patrons and staff can be tempted to cheat or steal, either in collusion or independently. For this reason, most casinos have security measures in place.