A casino, also known as a gambling house or a gaming hall, is a facility for certain types of gambling. Most casinos feature slot machines and table games like blackjack and poker. Some even offer live entertainment shows. These establishments require visitors to be of legal age to participate in gambling activities.

Modern casinos have extensive security measures in place to protect their patrons and assets. These security measures may include cameras, physical security forces, and specialized surveillance departments. In addition to these technologies, some casinos have sophisticated systems in place to monitor their gambling tables for signs of cheating or other irregularities. This is often done by using special chips with built-in microcircuitry that interacts with electronic systems in the tables to record exactly what is wagered minute by minute, and to alert croupiers or managers if any abnormalities are observed.

Table games at casinos are played against the house and operated by croupiers. They include baccarat (known as chemin de fer in France), craps, roulette, and blackjack. Casinos may also offer a variety of other games, such as poker (with one or more dealers) and sports betting.

Because of the large amount of money handled within a casino, both patrons and staff may be tempted to commit crimes, either in collusion or independently. Because of this, most casinos have strict rules of conduct and behavior, and they may employ a variety of technological monitoring devices to prevent these violations.