A casino, also known as a gambling house, is a building or room where people can gamble and play games of chance. A casino is a popular form of entertainment, and it can be found in many places around the world. Some casinos are associated with hotels and resorts, while others are freestanding. In some countries, casinos are regulated by law and have strict rules on who can enter.

The casino industry is highly competitive and profits from the fact that it is difficult for patrons to resist the lure of the jackpot, even if they know they have very little chance of winning. Despite the fact that most gambling games are based on pure chance, there is often an element of skill in some of them, such as blackjack and video poker.

Because large amounts of money are handled within the casino, security is a major concern. There are many ways that cheating and stealing can occur, either in collusion with other patrons or independently; most casinos employ multiple security measures to reduce these risks. The most obvious is the presence of security cameras throughout the facility.

Another aspect of casino security is the use of chips instead of real money, which makes it more difficult for patrons to conceal stolen or lost funds. Also, the routines and patterns of casino games follow certain conventions that make it easier for security personnel to spot unusual or suspicious behavior.