A casino is a place where people gamble by playing games of chance or skill. Some casinos offer only table games, such as blackjack and baccarat, while others have more extensive gaming operations. Most casino games have a mathematical expectation of winning or losing that is uniformly negative from the player’s perspective. This advantage is known as the house edge, and casinos earn money from these games by taking a percentage of the total bet or charging an hourly fee for each game played.

Many states have legalized gambling, with Las Vegas and Atlantic City the largest centers of casino activity in the United States. The number of casinos has increased steadily in recent years, as more and more areas seek to benefit from tourism and influxes of wealthy players. Casinos are typically regulated and taxed by state governments.

Because large amounts of money are handled in casinos, both patrons and employees may be tempted to cheat or steal, either in collusion or independently. To prevent this, casinos employ a variety of security measures, including surveillance cameras and rules of conduct.

The Planet Hollywood Casino in Las Vegas is a swanky, upscale destination that attracts a young crowd with its flashy entertainment options. The casino has over 90 table games and more than 3,000 slots, plus a 200,000-gallon shark aquarium and numerous shows by celebrity headliners like Kelly Clarkson and Christina Aguilera. The posh casino also has gourmet burgers by Gordon Ramsay and creative modern Asian cuisine by PF Chang’s, and offers plenty of other food and drink options.