A casino is a gambling establishment that accepts bets and pays out winnings. Often, casinos feature live dealers and offer games such as poker, roulette, and blackjack. Some are themed with elaborate structures and features, such as waterfalls, statues, giant pyramids or towers, and replicas of famous landmarks.

Some casinos also have restaurants and shows, which provide entertainment and distractions while players are gambling. Some casinos offer high-stakes gamblers special inducements such as free spectacular entertainment, expensive transportation and elegant living quarters. Other casinos have dedicated rooms for high-rollers that accept bets in the tens of thousands of dollars, with their own private gaming areas and a special staff to handle their needs.

All casino games have a built in statistical advantage for the house, and if enough bets are placed, the casinos can make large profits. The advantage can be very small, as little as two percent of the total amount wagered per game, but it adds up over millions of bets and allows casinos to pay out enormous jackpots to lucky winners.

In the United States, many states have legalized casinos, including Nevada, which is world-renowned for its huge Las Vegas resorts and casinos. Other well-known casinos include Atlantic City in New Jersey, and Indian gaming centers. Some casinos also operate internationally. Because of the large amounts of money handled, both patrons and staff may be tempted to cheat or steal, in collusion or independently. For this reason, casinos have strict security measures. These may include cameras and other technological methods, but also rules of conduct and behavior.