A casino, also known as a gambling house, is a place for certain types of gambling. Casinos are usually built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and other tourist attractions. They are also a popular feature on cruise ships and in some military establishments.
In the United States, there are more than 1,000 casinos. The largest city by revenue is Las Vegas, followed by Atlantic City and Chicago. Casinos are regulated by state and local laws and operate under a license. Most of them are owned by tribes and have gaming commissions that oversee operations. Many of the games are based on chance, but some require skill and strategy. In addition to the games, casinos offer various other forms of entertainment, such as stage shows and dramatic scenery.
The casino has become a major industry, generating significant profits for owners and operators. It is also an important source of employment, especially for women and minorities. However, studies indicate that compulsive gambling can have negative economic impacts, including a shift in spending away from other forms of entertainment and increased cost for treatment of problem gamblers.
Some casinos have extensive security measures. For example, some use specialized chips with microcircuitry to track player bets minute by minute; electronic monitoring of roulette wheels can detect any statistical deviation from expected results; and video surveillance is commonplace. These technologies may reduce the chance of cheating or theft, but they are also costly to implement.