A casino, also known as a gambling house or a gaming hall, is an establishment for certain types of gambling. Most casinos are located in or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and other tourist attractions. Some states have legalized casino gambling; others have banned it. The term may also refer to an area in a cruise ship or other vessel where gambling is permitted. Some casinos are stand-alone buildings; others are part of large resorts. In military and non-military usage, the term can also refer to an officers’ mess.

Casino games are games of chance wherein patrons wager cash or other items of value on the outcome of a random event. The games are usually played with chips that represent money and are governed by specific rules. Some casinos offer a mix of casino and card games, while others specialize in table or slot machines. Casinos can be regulated by government bodies, and winnings from these games are generally taxed as income.

Modern casinos often feature specialized security departments. A physical security force patrols the casino floor and responds to calls for assistance or definite signs of criminal activity. A specialized surveillance department watches the casino’s closed circuit television system, sometimes called “the eye in the sky”, for similar signs of crime.

Casinos can be very expensive to operate. They must pay for overhead, staffing, and maintenance costs. To offset these expenses, most casinos charge a fee to players, known as the rake. The rake is typically calculated as a percentage of the amount wagered on each hand. This fee can be as high as ten percent of the player’s total wager.