A casino is a gambling establishment that offers an array of games of chance for customers. These include poker, roulette, blackjack, baccarat, craps and video poker. Some casinos also feature live entertainment. Many are combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping and cruise ships. Casinos are located in cities around the world.

Casinos are supervised by security personnel to ensure that patrons do not cheat or steal. Security measures may include cameras, card readers and electronic devices that prevent players from changing their bets. A casino’s staff is also trained to detect signs of compulsive gambling. They also monitor player activity and behavior to make sure that gamblers are not being unduly influenced by other patrons.

In the United States, casinos are licensed by state governments and are usually located in commercial or tourist areas. The first legal casinos were in Nevada, which pioneered the concept of destination gambling. Other states began to copy the model, and the number of casinos grew rapidly.

Despite the popularity of games of chance, most casinos do not guarantee that a patron will win. Each game has a mathematical expectation of winning, or expected value, that is uniformly negative (from the patron’s perspective). This advantage is known as the house edge. Casinos often offset this disadvantage by offering complimentary goods and services to frequent patrons, called comps. This includes free hotel rooms, meals and tickets to shows.

Gambling in its various forms has been practiced since ancient times. Its precise origin is unknown, but it has long been considered a socially acceptable form of entertainment for the upper class. In addition to its monetary value, gambling helps to socialize individuals.