From the glittering lights of Las Vegas to the illegal pai gow parlors of New York’s Chinatown, casinos are places where people risk money by playing games of chance. They can add a variety of amenities and services to attract patrons, such as restaurants, free drinks and stage shows. Casinos also employ a variety of security measures to prevent cheating and theft, both by patrons and employees. These measures often include cameras.

Most casino games have a mathematical expectation that guarantees the house an edge over the players, although some do involve skill. Casinos use a variety of methods to make sure that gamblers never lose more than they can afford to pay, including requiring bettors to keep their cards visible at all times and limiting the amount they can win or lose on any given game. They may also monitor a player’s betting patterns to look for irregularities.

The casino industry is growing rapidly worldwide. In addition to expanding their gaming offerings, many casinos are adding hotels, restaurants and other amenities to appeal to a wider range of visitors. Increasing demand for casino gambling is fueling this growth.

Some casinos have become famous for their atmosphere or architecture, such as Monte Carlo’s Casino de Monaco, which opened in 1863. Others are known for their reputation as gambling centers, such as Atlantic City and Nevada. In the United States, the largest casino is Foxwoods in Ledyard, Connecticut, operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Indian tribe.