A casino is a building where people can gamble. It is also a place that features entertainment, such as shows and live music. It is sometimes combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and cruise ships. Casinos are licensed and regulated by government authorities. Some casinos are owned by private companies, while others are operated by local governments.

In the 1950s, casino gambling was legalized in Nevada, and organized crime figures provided much of the money that financed the new business. They sank millions into lavish gambling houses, and a few became sole or partial owners of some casinos. Some even influenced the outcome of games by buying, selling and trading chips and threatening casino staff.

Some casinos entice patrons to stay longer by offering free drinks and other complementary perks. They also manage player behavior to guarantee profitability, for example by rewarding big spenders with comps such as hotel rooms, meals, tickets to shows and limo or airline service.

To keep track of players and their winnings, some casinos use high-tech surveillance systems with cameras that can adjust to focus on specific patrons in a room filled with banks of security monitors. Other technologies let the casino track the number of chips deposited in each slot machine and note any statistical deviations from expected results. Casinos also employ a staff to count and bundle the cash brought in to the casino, which is then transported by armored car for deposit in a bank.