A casino is a facility where people can gamble through games of chance or with cards. It is also a place where people can watch sporting events and other entertainment. Many casinos have restaurants, bars, and clubs. A casino is often a centerpiece of a resort or hotel, and it may be built as an independent structure. The world’s oldest and best known casino is in Monte Carlo, Monaco, which opened in 1863.

In the United States most casinos are located in Nevada, with most of them being in Las Vegas. Casinos can also be found on American Indian reservations, which are not subject to state antigambling statutes. Some countries have national gambling laws that regulate the operation of casinos.

Most casino games have mathematically determined odds that ensure the house always has an advantage over the patrons, which is known as the house edge. In games such as poker where patrons play against each other, the casino makes its profit by taking a percentage of each pot or charging an hourly fee to play. Casinos also earn profits from the sales of alcohol and food, and from the commissions on slot machines and video poker machines. Mathematicians and computer programmers who analyze the mathematical probabilities of casino games are called gaming mathematicians.

Because of the large amounts of money handled within a casino, both patrons and staff may be tempted to cheat or steal, either in collusion or independently. Most casinos have security measures to prevent this, including cameras and guards.