A casino is an establishment for certain types of gambling. It offers slot machines and table games such as poker, roulette and blackjack. It also hosts live entertainment shows. These venues are generally built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops and other tourist attractions. In some countries, casinos are licensed and regulated by government agencies.

In the United States, a casino is a business that carries out legal gambling operations. These businesses are licensed by the state where they operate and are required to abide by state regulations regarding the types of gambling they offer, the number of people they can serve at one time, and the amount of money they can pay out in winnings.

Casinos are most often found in cities with large populations and in resort destinations such as Las Vegas. However, they can be found in many other places around the world as well, including some that are not primarily known for gambling, such as Monte Carlo and Singapore.

In the past, casino was used to refer to a public hall for music and dancing. In the second half of the 19th century, the term came to be associated primarily with gaming or gambling rooms. The classic example of a casino is in Monte Carlo, which was opened in 1863 and has long been a major source of income for the Principality of Monaco. In Las Vegas, casinos are often referred to as gambling houses and feature high-stakes table games such as roulette, craps and blackjack. In addition to these games, most casinos feature an extensive selection of video poker and slot machines.