A casino is a place where gambling takes place, and is often associated with other leisure activities such as dining, entertainment and shopping. In some countries, casinos are also known as cabarets or kasino. Some of the world’s largest casinos are built around themed attractions such as Las Vegas Strip resorts, theme parks and waterparks. A casino may also host conventions and trade shows. In addition, some casinos are owned and operated by religious or charitable organizations.

Many casinos are also based on a variety of games that have an element of chance and a level of skill involved, such as roulette, craps, poker and blackjack. In these games, the house (the entity that runs the casino) has a mathematical advantage over the players. The size of this advantage is usually determined by the probability of a given event occurring, or expected value, which can be negative for some games and positive for others.

Some casinos use cameras and other electronic security measures to prevent cheating and stealing by patrons. In some cases, these measures are used in combination with rules of conduct and behavior to ensure that gamblers behave responsibly.

Due to the large amount of money that is handled within a casino, it is not uncommon for staff or patrons to attempt to steal or cheat. Because of this, casinos spend a lot of time and money on security. This includes the presence of casino guards and surveillance systems. Many casinos also prohibit the use of cell phones, and do not allow patrons to take pictures or videos in their gaming areas.