A casino is a gambling establishment, typically located in a resort, and featuring a wide range of entertainment options. These include gaming, restaurants and bars, and live theater. They may also feature nightclubs and other forms of nocturnal entertainment. In the United States, casinos are usually regulated by state laws. Nevada is the most famous casino destination, followed by Atlantic City, New Jersey and Chicago, Illinois. Casinos are also often located on American Indian reservations and in other countries where they are legal.

Casinos are generally staffed with employees who are trained to deter cheating and theft by patrons or other staff members. Because of the large amount of money that is handled within a casino, both patrons and staff can be tempted to cheat or steal, either in collusion with each other or independently of each other. As a result, casinos spend a great deal of time, effort and money on security.

In addition to the obvious surveillance cameras that monitor the activities of all patrons and game tables, some casinos have catwalks in the ceiling which allow security personnel to look directly down, through one-way glass, on the tables and slot machines from a control room. These systems can be adjusted by security workers to focus on particular patrons or areas and are also recorded for later review.

Some of the world’s most famous casinos are located in Las Vegas, Nevada, although there are many other contenders, including the Casino de Monte-Carlo in Monaco, and the Casino Lisboa in Portugal. The Bellagio in Las Vegas is particularly renowned for its fountain show and luxury accommodations, and has been featured in countless movies.