A casino is an establishment for certain types of gambling. Modern casinos are often combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, and/or cruise ships. In some countries, casinos are licensed and regulated by the government. Some casinos offer only table games, while others have a wide variety of both table and slot machines. In addition, some casinos host live entertainment events such as stand-up comedy, concerts, and sports.

The word casino, borrowed from Italian, means “public hall” or “gambling house”. The OED cites its first use in 1601. Today casinos are a major source of income for most of the world’s nations. The United States leads the world in the number of casinos, with over 1,000. Those in Europe and Asia have many more. In the United States, most state governments prohibit casino gambling; however, several have legalized it on Indian reservations or in other special areas such as riverboats.

Some casinos also feature a variety of other table games, including blackjack (which has a large following in Las Vegas) and roulette. In addition, some casinos specialize in Far Eastern games such as sic bo, which spread to European and American casinos during the 1990s, fan-tan, and pai gow poker.

Some casinos are famous for their live entertainment, attracting stars such as Frank Sinatra, who once performed at Caesars’ Circus Maximus Showroom. Other casinos are famed for their luxury, with opulent suites and spas alongside roulette wheels and blackjack tables.