What Is a Casino?

A casino, also known as a gambling house or a gaming hall, is an establishment for certain types of gambling. These establishments are usually combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and other tourist attractions. In the United States, casinos are regulated by state law and offer a variety of games including poker, blackjack, and roulette. They also feature entertainment such as concerts and fine dining. Casinos may also offer sports betting and horse racing. In some cases, they are operated by Native American tribes.

Due to the large amount of money handled within a casino, both patrons and staff members may be tempted to cheat or steal. To prevent this, modern casinos employ several security measures. These include a physical security force and specialized surveillance departments. In addition to these measures, some casinos have security cameras located throughout the property.

The casino industry has grown significantly in the last several decades. While Las Vegas and Atlantic City were the pioneers in this industry, a number of other cities and states have established casinos as well. Many of these new casinos have been constructed on Native American tribal land. The growth of the casinos is partly due to a change in public attitude toward gambling. In a recent poll by the Gallup Organization, 27 percent of respondents said that casino gambling was acceptable for others but not for themselves. This is a substantial increase from the previous year’s poll, when only 16% of respondents felt this way.