A casino is a gambling establishment offering various types of chance-based games. These include games of chance and skill, such as craps, roulette, baccarat, blackjack, and video poker. In addition to these, some casinos also offer other types of gambling, such as off-track horse betting and sports wagering. Many countries have laws regulating the licensing of casinos. In the United States, some states have anti-gambling statutes that prohibit casinos on their territory. In other cases, such as on American Indian reservations, casinos can be legally operated by private companies.

Some casinos, such as Caesars Palace, are famous for their entertainment venues. The iconic Las Vegas landmark is home to the Circus Maximus Showroom, which has hosted performances by such luminaries as Frank Sinatra, Bette Midler, Elton John, and Mariah Carey. Its 1,324 slot machines and 185 table games also attract hardened dollarspinners and curious newbies alike.

While a casino’s primary purpose is to provide gambling opportunities, it also needs to ensure that those activities are conducted fairly. This is why many casinos invest heavily in technology for surveillance purposes. For example, in a system called chip tracking, electronic chips with built-in microcircuitry interact with systems that monitor the exact amounts wagered minute by minute so that casinos can quickly discover any statistical deviations from expected results.

Similarly, roulette wheels and dice are electronically monitored to detect any anomalies in their results. The casino industry employs mathematicians specializing in gaming analysis to help with these efforts.