A casino is an establishment where various types of gambling activities are carried out. These establishments are often combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, cruise ships and other tourist attractions. In some countries, casinos are regulated by law and operated by government-owned enterprises. Some are also privately owned.

Modern casinos are large, luxurious facilities offering a variety of gaming and non-gambling entertainment. Many are designed to appeal to a wide audience, including women and families. Some offer hotel rooms, dining options and other amenities such as swimming pools and spas. In addition, some offer a variety of live entertainment shows and events.

Unlike other businesses, casinos have built-in advantages that ensure their profitability. These advantages, known as the house edge, are the average amount of gross profit that a casino expects to make from each game it offers. This means that the more a patron bets, the more likely they are to lose money.

Because of the inherent risks of gambling, casinos spend a great deal of time and effort on security. These efforts are aimed at preventing cheating, robbery and other illegal activity. A typical modern casino has a dedicated physical security force and a specialized surveillance department. Casinos have also adopted technological innovations to improve security and monitor games. For example, chip tracking technology allows the casino to monitor bets minute by minute and warn of any anomaly; and roulette wheels are electronically monitored regularly to discover any statistical deviation from their expected results.