What Is a Casino?

A casino is a building where people can gamble, play games of chance or skill, or both, and win cash or other prizes. Most casino games involve a mixture of luck and strategy. Some casinos also have restaurants and bars. Most countries have legalized some form of gambling.

Casinos have several security measures in place to protect their patrons. Some of these include cameras, guards and secure entrances. In addition, some casinos have a policy of only allowing customers of a certain age to enter. This age limit varies by country and state, and is usually 18 or 21 years old.

There are three general types of casino games: gaming machines, table games and random number games. Gaming machines are operated by a computerized system or by live dealers. Table games, such as blackjack and craps, are played against the house. In games of skill, such as poker, the house profits by taking a commission, known as rake.

While Las Vegas is well-known for its glitz and glamour, it is not the largest casino in America. That honor goes to Ledyard, Connecticut’s Foxwoods Resort Casino, which offers 4.7 million square feet of gaming space and is operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Indian tribe. The casino is the world’s most-visited gaming venue and was featured in the 2001 film Ocean’s Eleven. It features a wide variety of casino games, including baccarat, chemin de fer, pai gow poker, blackjack and roulette.