A casino is a building or room equipped for certain types of gambling. It is also known as a gaming house, gambling den, or club. Casinos are most commonly found in the United States and Canada, but are also found in other countries. They are usually built near or combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, and other tourist attractions. Some casinos are operated by government-licensed or regulated entities, such as the Nevada Gaming Commission in Las Vegas.

There are three general categories of casino games: gaming machines, table games, and random number games. Gaming machines, such as slot machines and video poker, allow customers to gamble by playing against the machine rather than against other players. Table games, such as blackjack and craps, are facilitated by live dealers. Random number games, such as roulette and baccarat, involve a selection of numbers from a random number generator (RNG).

Casinos are designed around noise, light, and excitement. Most are decorated in bright colors and have large chandeliers. They often have stage areas for musical or comedy shows. They serve alcoholic drinks and snacks. The sound system is often loud, and music plays constantly.

In the United States, where casinos were first established, most states made them legal in the latter half of the 20th century. Many of these states were formerly prohibition or frontier states. In addition to Las Vegas, the United States has casinos in Atlantic City, New Jersey; Reno, Nevada; and elsewhere. Some states have laws limiting the number of casinos or their locations. Others restrict the type of games that can be played in them.