A casino, also known as a gambling house or a gaming establishment, is a place where people can play certain types of gambling games. It is also a place where people can drink alcohol and socialize with other people. Casinos are usually located in or near hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, and other tourist attractions. Some casinos are independent while others are part of larger hotel/resort complexes. In addition to gaming tables, a casino may contain other entertainment features such as live music and shows.

Casinos make money by charging for admission and by the products they sell to gamblers, such as food and beverages. The more money a player wagers, the more profit the casino makes. In order to keep customers, casinos offer many promotions and rewards programs. These are often called comps. Examples of these include free hotel rooms, food and drinks, tickets to shows or limo service. Casinos also earn a lot of money from high rollers, who gamble in special rooms away from the main floor and bet tens of thousands of dollars or more. These individuals are considered to be “good” players by the casino and are given many perks.

Gambling is a popular activity worldwide. It is estimated that 51 million Americans visited a casino in 2002. Most of these visits were legal, but some were not. It is believed that gambling has a psychological component to it that appeals to a deep-seated human need for excitement and the chance to win. Something about the atmosphere of a casino, or the games themselves, seems to encourage people to cheat and steal in order to get ahead. This, in turn, creates a need for more security and surveillance at casinos.