A casino, also known as a gambling house or a gaming room, is an establishment for certain types of gambling. Some casinos are standalone while others are combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping or cruise ships. The word casino is also used to refer to a group of games of chance such as blackjack, poker and roulette.

Modern casinos use a variety of techniques to prevent cheating, such as video cameras and closed circuit television (CCTV). They also hire staff to supervise the games themselves; these are called gaming supervisors or table game technicians. A casino may also employ mathematically trained professionals who analyze betting patterns and other data to discover patterns of behavior that indicate cheating.

In addition to traditional games of chance, many casinos offer other entertainment options such as concerts and shows. Some even have themed restaurants and bars. The Grand Lisboa in Macau, designed to look like a birdcage, is one such example; it features a world-class restaurant headed by a celebrity chef and hosts an array of other high-profile events.

While musical shows, lighted fountains and shopping centers help draw in customers, the billions of dollars in profits raked in by casinos each year come primarily from their gambling operations. Learn about the history of casinos, how they make their money and what it takes to work in a casino. Plus, find out about the most popular casino games and how to play them.