A casino is a gambling hall where people play games of chance for money. The term comes from the Italian casona, meaning “courtyard.” In the United States casinos are licensed and regulated by state governments. They offer a variety of games including slot machines, blackjack, roulette, baccarat, craps and poker. While glitzy hotels, shopping centers and musical shows attract patrons, the vast majority of profits come from games of chance.
In order to ensure that their customers are not being cheated, casinos monitor the behavior of players and enforce rules of conduct. Casinos also use technology to supervise games; for example, betting chips have microcircuitry that interacts with electronic systems to monitor the exact amount of money wagered minute by minute and to warn about any discrepancy. Video cameras are used to watch patrons at card tables, and the results of dice rolls and roulette wheels are checked against statistical charts for anomalies.
Casinos can be found in many countries, although they are most common in the United States and Europe. Most casinos are operated by private companies, and some are owned by public corporations. In the United States, there are a number of state-run gaming facilities, including those in Atlantic City and Las Vegas. Casinos are also present on some American Indian reservations and are exempt from state antigambling laws. Critics of casino gambling argue that the losses to communities from compulsive gamblers more than offset any economic gains that might be gained by attracting tourists.