A casino is a gambling establishment where patrons may gamble on games of chance or skill. Some casinos are combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, or cruise ships. Casinos are primarily owned and operated by private companies, but some are owned by municipalities or public corporations. The term casino is also used for a specific type of gambling house in the Spanish language: a casin
In many countries, casinos are licensed and regulated by a government agency or other authority. This ensures that the casinos follow strict rules to protect their patrons. Casinos are also required to report their profits to their licensing authority. The revenue from a casino is often a major source of income for a city or region. However, critics argue that the negative economic effects of compulsive gambling outweigh any gains from tourism or gaming revenues.
While some casinos offer a wide variety of games, most specialize in one or more types of gambling. Most offer table games like baccarat and chemin de fer; card game variants such as blackjack and trente et quarante; and slot machines.
Because of the large amount of money handled within a casino, both patrons and staff are sometimes tempted to cheat or steal, either in collusion with others or on their own. To prevent these actions, casinos use security measures such as cameras and surveillance systems. These surveillance systems are often designed to provide a “wall-to-wall” view of the entire casino floor.