A casino, also known as a gaming house or a gambling establishment, is a place where people can play a variety of gambling games. In most countries, casinos are licensed and regulated by governments. They usually have table games, such as blackjack and poker, as well as slot machines and other electronic devices. Some casinos offer live entertainment, such as concerts and stand-up comedy.
Some casinos are recognizable by their grand architecture and luxurious decor. The famous Casino at Monte-Carlo, which opened in 1863, is one of the oldest and most prestigious casino buildings in the world. It is still a major source of income for the principality of Monaco. Other famous casinos are located in Estoril, Portugal; Corfu, Greece; and Baden-Baden and Karlsruhe, Germany. In the United States, many cities have casinos, but Las Vegas is by far the most famous and the largest.
The largest casinos are often built as large resorts with a wide range of facilities, such as restaurants, bars, hotels, and shops. They may also feature a full-service racetrack and a variety of entertainment shows.
There is also a growing number of online casinos, which are operated by companies that specialize in Internet gambling. The number of such sites has grown exponentially over the past decade, as Internet technology has improved. Many of these sites are based in offshore jurisdictions, and their operators are not subject to the same regulations as land-based casinos. Increasingly, these online casinos are competing with traditional brick-and-mortar casinos for customers.