A casino or gambling house is a place for people to play different types of gambling games. It also hosts events and entertainment such as shows, sports, etc. These establishments are often located near hotels, restaurants and other tourist attractions. Some even have theme parks attached to them.

According to the American Gaming Association, about 51 million people—or about a quarter of all adults over 21—visited casinos in 2002. This is about 3% more than in 2001. Casinos are usually heavily regulated by government agencies. They must meet certain conditions to operate, and they are usually required to have cameras for surveillance purposes. The casinos also have to meet requirements for the security of money and other assets.

While the exact amount of money that casino patrons lose is unknown, it is estimated that casinos have a built-in statistical advantage over their patrons. This edge can be very small, but it can earn casinos millions of dollars over time. Combined with the profits from video poker and slot machines, this can allow casinos to build opulent hotels, fountains, pyramids, towers, replicas of famous landmarks and other dazzling displays.

The most popular games in a casino are slots and table games. Many of these games have themes like ancient Rome, space or the movies and can feature free spins bonus rounds and expanding reels. They are so popular that they make up a large part of the revenue for most casinos.