A casino, also known as a gambling house or a gaming hall, is an establishment offering a variety of gambling activities. Its most notable features are a raised floor for games, slot machines and table games like poker and blackjack. Some casinos combine this with entertainment facilities, such as restaurants and shows.

Most casino games have a significant element of chance, but some have an element of skill. These are called skill-based games. In such games, patrons can eliminate the inherent long-term advantage of the casino (known as the house edge or vigorish) by employing techniques. Those who are skilled at such games are known as advantage players.

Casinos spend a lot of time and money on security, both to prevent cheating and to catch thieves and other criminals. Among the most important forms of security is a large network of cameras that monitor all activity in a casino. These are synchronized to record each and every action, and can be focused on specific suspicious patrons by the security staff. On top of that, all dealers and other personnel follow a set of routines that are designed to make it easy for security personnel to spot blatant cheating, such as palming dice or marking cards.