A casino, or gaming house, is a place where people can gamble and take part in other entertainment activities based on games of chance. It is the most popular form of gambling worldwide, and it is found in many countries. The United States has the most casinos of any country, and it is home to a number of famous gambling destinations such as Las Vegas.

Most casinos rely heavily on security measures to prevent patrons from cheating or stealing, either in collusion or independently. Casinos have video cameras located throughout the building, and employees routinely monitor tables and slot machines to detect suspicious betting patterns. Some casinos also use catwalks above the floor to allow surveillance personnel to look down directly on table and slot games through one-way mirrors.

The most common casino games are roulette, blackjack, and slot machines. Some casinos specialize in specific game types, such as baccarat (known in the United States as chemin de fer and in France as trente et quarante) or craps. Some casinos also offer poker, in which players play against each other and the house makes a profit by taking a small percentage of the pot or charging an hourly fee for playing time.

The odds of winning casino games are generally poor, but different games have varying odds of winning. According to Forbes Magazine, the best odds of all are in blackjack. The odds of winning at the Wheel of Fortune and slot machines are the lowest.