A casino is a place where people gamble in games of chance. A casino can be located in a building, or it may be an entire complex such as the Monte Carlo Casino in Monaco. Casinos have a reputation for being glamorous and opulent, often offering top-notch hotel accommodations, Michelin-starred restaurants, designer shops, and entertainment shows.

While casinos offer a wide variety of gambling opportunities, they are best known for their table games such as blackjack, roulette, and poker. They also feature a wide range of slot machines and other electronic games. Many casinos use technology to control the games: betting chips have built-in microcircuitry that allows them to be tracked minute by minute; roulette wheels are electronically monitored so that any statistical deviation from expected results can be quickly discovered.

Gambling is big business and casinos can be found in nearly every country in the world. Some are famous, such as the Bellagio in Las Vegas, the Casino de Monte-Carlo in Monaco, and the Casino Lisboa in Lisbon. Other casinos are more renowned for their prestige than for their gaming offerings: The Kurhaus in Baden-Baden, Germany, is an example of a casino that focuses on luxury and exclusivity rather than gambling. Most casinos earn money by charging players a commission, called the house edge or rake, on wagers they accept. Some casinos also give out complimentary items or comps to players. These examples are selected automatically from various online sources, and may not reflect the opinions of Merriam-Webster or its editors.