A casino, also known as a gambling house or a gaming room, is an establishment for certain types of gambling. Some casinos are stand-alone buildings while others are located in or connected to hotels, restaurants, retail shops, cruise ships, or other tourist attractions. Many countries have legalized casinos, and some have national or state-regulated ones. Most casinos are staffed by professional security forces. Modern casinos also use technology for a variety of purposes; for example, the Bellagio has a system whereby betting chips have built-in microcircuitry to enable them to be tracked minute-by-minute and alert the casino if any anomaly occurs.
Most of the games offered in a casino involve chance, although some involve skill. The most popular games are craps, roulette, baccarat, blackjack, and video poker. In the case of table games, the house typically takes a percentage of the total bets as its profit, which is called the rake. In games where players compete against each other, the casino makes a profit by taking a share of each pot or charging an hourly fee for playing time.
In addition to gambling, a casino can feature live entertainment such as music or comedy shows. It can also offer other amenities such as a spa, nightclub, or buffet. Many casinos are themed, with a particular décor or atmosphere that is intended to attract a specific type of clientele. For instance, Caesars Palace has a Roman theme and features the Circus Maximus Showroom, which has hosted residencies by entertainers including Frank Sinatra, Celine Dion, Elton John, Cher, and Bette Midler.