A casino is an establishment that allows patrons to gamble for money. In addition to gambling, some casinos also feature restaurants and entertainment. Some are integrated into resorts or hotels, making them a one-stop destination for vacationers. Some are famous, like the Las Vegas Strip or Macau. Others are in exotic locations, such as Venice, Monaco, or Singapore. Some are small, local operations; others are massive complexes with multiple gaming floors and upscale restaurants.

Casinos are generally considered to be places where people can lose large amounts of money quickly. Because of this, they are protected by strict laws and regulations. In the United States, the legal age for gambling is 21.

Many casinos use specialized computers and advanced surveillance systems to monitor their premises for signs of cheating or other suspicious activity. These systems may include a high-tech “eye in the sky,” where cameras watch every table, window, and doorway at once; or electronic monitoring of roulette wheels, allowing casinos to notice any statistical deviations from expected results.

In general, the typical casino patron is a middle-aged woman from a household with above-average income. These women, who are often married, tend to play higher-stakes games and are more likely to gamble for longer periods of time. This demographic has made casinos a major source of revenue for several regions, and their growth is predicted to continue. In the United States, a quarter of adults over the age of 21 visited a casino in 2002.