A casino or gaming house is an establishment that offers various types of gambling activities. Customers gamble with cash or paper tickets containing barcodes, called chips, on events that have a random chance of occurring. Some casinos also offer a variety of other games, such as video poker, sports betting, and even bingo.

A large percentage of casino revenue comes from the United States, where gambling is legal in 40 states. The largest casinos are located in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, with many others spread across the country. In addition to traditional land-based casinos, online gambling sites are gaining in popularity as more people become comfortable with the idea of playing for money from the comfort of home.

Casinos are often protected by layers of security, including guards and surveillance cameras. In addition, they may prohibit certain items or require that players keep their hands visible at all times. This is to prevent cheating or stealing, which can occur both in collusion with staff members and between patrons. Despite these precautions, casinos are a common target for criminal activity, with both employees and guests committing crimes.

New York state has a dozen popular land-based casinos, as well as 15 tribal casinos and plenty of racetracks. There are also dozens of online casinos, and you can play games like slot machines and table games from any computer with an Internet connection. Some states also regulate lottery and charity gaming. You must be at least 21 to gamble in most casinos, though some allow 18-year-olds for bingo and pull-tab games.