A casino is a gambling establishment that offers games of chance for money. Its primary operation involves slot machines and table games like poker, blackjack, and roulette. Some casinos have a croupier or dealer who enables the game, manages payments, and occasionally offers advice on strategy. The casino’s revenue comes from the house edge, which is the expected percentage of a bet that will be won by the house given standard patterns of play.

The popularity of casino gaming is growing worldwide. In the United States alone, the American Gaming Association estimates that approximately 51 million people over 21 visited a casino in 2002. Worldwide, that number is probably doubled. Casinos range in size from massive resorts to tiny card rooms. Some are located in exotic locales such as Venice or Macau, while others are tucked away in suburban shopping malls and truck stops. Many states have legalized casino-type games, and some have even merged them with horse racing to create racinos.

Some casinos have security measures in place to prevent cheating and theft by patrons or staff, especially when large amounts of money are involved. For example, casino chips have built-in microcircuitry that interacts with electronic systems to enable the casino to monitor the exact amount of money wagered minute by minute, and to discover any statistical deviations quickly. Roulette wheels and other games may be electronically monitored to spot any statistical anomalies.

Successful casinos generate billions of dollars each year, benefiting the companies, investors, and Native American tribes that own and operate them, as well as state and local governments that levy taxes and fees on them. They also provide jobs and stimulate economic development in the communities where they are located.