A casino is a facility for certain types of gambling. Often casinos are combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops and other tourist attractions. The precise origin of gambling is not known, but it is believed to have existed in some form or another throughout the history of humankind. The exact number of casinos in the United States is unknown, but it is estimated to be over 1,000. Many cities are famous for their casinos, such as Monte Carlo in Monaco and Las Vegas in Nevada, and some are even named after them (for example, Dragonara Palace on the Isle of Malta).

Several countries and territories have legalized gambling, and the United States is the world’s largest gaming market. In the US, 40 states have some form of casino gambling. In general, casinos offer games of chance and some games of skill. Most of these games have mathematically determined odds that give the house a permanent advantage over players, called the house edge. The casino’s profit comes from the difference between these odds and the bets placed by customers.

Because of the large amounts of money handled within a casino, both patrons and staff may be tempted to cheat and steal, either in collusion or independently. To prevent this, modern casinos have security measures in place. These include catwalks above the casino floor that allow surveillance personnel to look directly down on tables and slot machines through one-way glass. Many casinos also have security cameras located throughout the facility.