A casino is a popular establishment that offers gambling entertainment to its patrons. These games can include poker, blackjack, roulette and slot machines. A casino may also offer other forms of entertainment such as live music or theatre. Some casinos are located in luxurious hotels while others stand alone. They are often found near or combined with restaurants, shopping centers and cruise ships.

While musical shows, lighted fountains, shopping and lavish hotel rooms draw the crowds, casinos would not exist without their primary attraction: gambling. Slot machines, craps, keno and other games of chance account for the billions in profits that casinos rake in each year.

Casinos are places of business, and the large amount of currency that passes through their doors means they have a special need for security. Both patrons and staff members can be tempted to cheat or steal, either in collusion or independently. For this reason, casinos devote a great deal of time and money to security measures.

Casinos have long been associated with organized crime, and their seamy image has impeded their legitimate growth. While mobster money flowed into Las Vegas and Reno, legal businessmen were reluctant to take a risk on an industry with such a reputation. Casino gambling was only made legal in Nevada in 1931, and it took decades for the industry to expand outside of that state. Modern casinos have incorporated technology into their operations, and electronic systems monitor the games to detect any statistical deviations from expected results.