What Is a Casino?

A casino, also known as a gambling house or a kasino in some languages, is an establishment for certain types of gambling. Casinos are often built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and other tourist attractions. In some countries, casinos are regulated by law.

There are many different kinds of casinos, ranging from the high-end luxury experiences offered in Las Vegas and Macau to the smoky, illegal pai gow parlors of New York’s Chinatown. Those who visit casinos are generally drawn to their entertainment offerings, whether it’s the glittering stage lights of Caesars Circus Maximus Showroom or the symphony of slot machines in the glitzy, megaresort-like Venetian Macau.

In addition to offering a wide range of casino games, many casinos are famous for their celebrity performers. Frank Sinatra once ruled the roost at the Caesars Palace Colosseum, where his famed residencies launched the careers of other superstars, including Celine Dion, Elton John, Cher, Madonna, Rod Stewart, Mariah Carey and Van Morrison.

Those who prefer to skip the live entertainment and head straight for the tables might be interested to learn that casinos offer a variety of security measures, both visible and invisible, in an effort to deter cheating or stealing, either in collusion or independently. For example, a catwalk in the ceiling of a casino’s floor allows surveillance personnel to look down through one-way glass directly on the players at the table games and slots.