A casino (or gaming hall) is a building or room where various types of gambling games can be played. Its name is derived from the Latin word for “house”, and it can refer to either a public house for gambling or a collection of rooms in which gambling takes place. Casinos often add other luxuries such as restaurants, shops and stage shows to attract patrons.

In the United States, casinos are typically located in a tourist area and are open to anyone over the age of 21. Most states regulate the types of games offered and the maximum amounts a patron may win or lose per day. Some states also limit the number of times a person can visit a casino.

Because of the large sums of money involved, casinos are prone to cheating and theft by both patrons and staff. To combat this, security measures are a key component of casino design. Casinos feature surveillance cameras that monitor everything from the entrance to the gaming floor, and have special rooms where they can review footage.

While musical shows, lighted fountains, shopping centers and lavish hotels help draw in customers, the vast majority of a casino’s profits come from its games of chance. Slot machines and table games such as roulette, blackjack, craps and baccarat provide the billions of dollars in revenue raked in by casinos each year. The mob once controlled many casinos, but as real estate investors and hotel chains grew richer they bought out the mafia and ran their own operations without mob interference.