A casino (also known as a gaming hall or a gambling house) is a building or room equipped with one or more games of chance for public use. Most casinos feature a variety of table games, such as blackjack, craps, roulette, and baccarat. Some casinos also offer video poker and slot machines. Other popular casino games include bingo and horse racing. In the United States, there are now more than 40 states that allow some form of legalized casino gambling, and Las Vegas is by far the largest. Casinos are usually regulated by both federal and state laws.

In general, most casino games provide a predictable long-term advantage to the house, called the house edge (or vigorish). The difference between actual and expected value is the profit the casino makes. Players who possess skills that eliminate the inherent long-term disadvantage of a game are known as advantage players. Casinos earn money from advantage players through a commission, called the rake.

Many casino patrons may be tempted to cheat or steal, in collusion with other patrons or independently; thus, casinos employ numerous security measures. Most modern casinos have a physical security force and a specialized surveillance department that work together to prevent crime. In addition, most casinos have closed circuit television systems that enable them to monitor activities throughout the building. In the case of large casinos, these systems may be manned by security personnel, or they may be operated by remote control.