A casino is a gambling establishment that offers an array of games of chance for visitors to wager on. These games include slots, roulette, blackjack, poker, craps and keno. The etymology of the word casino can be traced back to Italy and originally meant a villa or summer house. Nowadays, casinos are often incorporated into resorts and offer a range of entertainment activities for tourists and holidaymakers.

The popularity of casinos has grown worldwide. In the United States, the Las Vegas Strip is home to some of the largest casinos, while Atlantic City and Chicago also have significant numbers. In addition, some American Indian reservations have casinos. Most of these casinos are run by private corporations rather than individual mobsters. This is due to the fact that real estate investors and hotel chains have deeper pockets than mafia mobster families.

In addition to traditional gambling facilities, modern casinos often feature restaurants and bars, retail shops, spas and even art galleries. This is because they recognize that casino patrons are not just there to gamble. Many visit these establishments for food and beverages, to socialize with friends or to enjoy a night of live entertainment.

Because a casino deals with large sums of money, security is a big concern. This is why a variety of measures are in place to prevent cheating and stealing. A basic measure is the use of security cameras throughout the facility. These are manned by trained security personnel who can easily identify any unusual activity. In addition, modern casinos employ a variety of sophisticated electronic surveillance systems to monitor game play and spot any suspicious behavior.