A casino is an establishment for certain types of gambling. It can also refer to a collection of such establishments. Casinos are often combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, cruise ships and other tourist attractions. The term casino may also be used in the context of a military or civilian officers’ mess.

In Europe, casinos became more common after the second half of the 19th century, when they spread throughout the continent as the result of changes in law and regulation. In America, the first legal casinos appeared in Atlantic City in 1978 and from the 1980s they began appearing on American Indian reservations, which are not subject to state anti-gambling statutes.

Many casinos are owned by investment banks, which use the games to generate profits for their shareholders. Some are publicly traded companies, while others are private corporations or partnerships. In the United States, many of the larger casinos are operated by Indian tribes.

In addition to gaming tables and slots, most casinos feature a variety of other entertainment options, including live performances by popular musicians and comedians. In some cases, these events are free to the public. Other times, a cover charge is required.

Casinos employ a wide range of security measures. On the casino floor, employees keep an eye on patrons to make sure they aren’t cheating, and the high-tech “eye in the sky” system of surveillance cameras allows security workers to watch every table and window at once.