A casino is an establishment for certain types of gambling. Casinos are often combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, and/or cruise ships. They may also be standalone facilities. In the United States, casinos are regulated by state laws and are usually licensed. Some states have only a few casinos, while others have many.

Most casino games have a house edge, which means that the casino always makes money. This advantage can be very small (less than two percent), but over the millions of bets made, it adds up. The house edge is mathematically determined, and it can vary from game to game. Casinos calculate it using mathematical analysis and computer programs. This work is done by professional mathematicians, called gaming mathematicians or analysts.

Something about casinos seems to inspire cheating and scamming, which is why casinos spend so much time, effort and money on security. Many casinos employ a large staff of casino security personnel, and some have elaborate surveillance systems with cameras that watch every table, window and doorway.

The Bellagio, in Las Vegas, is known for its elegance and sophistication, and the movie Ocean’s 11 gave it global fame. Other famous casinos include the Monte Carlo in Monaco, the Casino de Paris and the glitzy new Casino Lisboa in Lisbon. Even in smaller towns, casinos are a major attraction, bringing in visitors from all over the world. In Germany’s elegant spa town of Baden-Baden, for example, casino play has been a popular pastime among royalty and aristocracy for 150 years.