A casino is an establishment for certain types of gambling. Some casinos are combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops or cruise ships. Most countries have laws regulating the operation of casinos. Some are regulated by government agencies, while others are privately run. Casinos are usually staffed with employees trained in gaming regulations and customer service. Many casino games have mathematically determined odds that give the house an advantage over the players. These odds are known as the house edge. In some casino games, the house takes a percentage of all money wagered, which is known as the rake. Some casinos also offer complimentary items or comps to players.

In addition to traditional table games, most casinos offer a wide variety of slot machines and video poker. Many have large jackpots, and some have dedicated areas for high-rollers. In the United States, Las Vegas is the most famous and largest casino city. Other cities such as Atlantic City, New Jersey and Chicago have significant gambling operations. Many American Indian reservations have casinos, which are exempt from state anti-gambling statutes.

Some casinos feature live entertainment, such as comedians or musicians. The Bellagio has a Cirque du Soleil theater, and Caesars Palace has hosted big-name entertainers such as Frank Sinatra, Rod Stewart, Elton John and Celine Dion. Caesars has over 185 table games and 1,324 slot machines, and its Circus Maximus showroom is legendary. The original word casino derives from the Italian for a public hall or assembly room, and it may have been used as early as the 16th century.