A casino, or gambling house, is a place where people can play games of chance for money. Casinos are often combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops or cruise ships and are operated by private companies or public organizations. In the United States, casinos are regulated by state laws. There are more than 3,000 casinos in operation worldwide.

Casinos have long attracted gamblers from around the world. Some are built as standalone structures, while others are attached to resorts or hotels, for example the Bellagio in Las Vegas. The top-grossing casino in the world, Galaxy Macau in Hong Kong, is a sprawling complex with hotel rooms, restaurants and a shopping mall. Many casinos cater to high rollers, who are able to spend large amounts of money and are given special treatment, such as limousine service and luxury suites.

Regardless of the glitz and glamour, there is one thing all casinos have in common: They are business enterprises that seek to maximize profits. Most gambling games have a built-in advantage for the house, known as the house edge. The house edge takes into account the fact that most players will lose money in the long run.

Security is also an important part of a casino’s operation. Cameras monitor the gaming floor, and employees are trained to spot a wide variety of cheating techniques, from palming to marking or switching cards or dice. In addition, the routines and patterns of casino games tend to be predictable, making it easier for security personnel to detect anomalies.