A casino is a place where people can gamble for money or other goods. Historically, casinos were a public hall for music and dancing, but in the second half of the 19th century they started to become popular places where people could place bets and try their luck at games like roulette and horse racing.

People may be tempted to cheat or steal in a casino, either in collusion with other patrons or independently. Because of this, casinos use a variety of security measures to prevent these activities. Often, this is done by using cameras located throughout the facility, but there are also rules and regulations that must be followed. For example, players at table games must keep their cards visible at all times.

Casinos make a large part of their money through slot machines, which are very simple to operate. The player puts in a coin or paper ticket and pulls a handle or pushes a button, then watches a series of bands of colored shapes roll on reels (actual physical reels or a video representation of them). If the right pattern appears, the machine will pay out a predetermined amount of money. Slots are the largest source of income for most casinos.

Some casinos offer special inducements to big bettors, such as free spectacular entertainment and transportation and elegant living quarters. Many casinos also give comps to players who regularly spend a lot of time playing, such as free hotel rooms and dinners or tickets to shows.