A casino is an establishment for gambling. Many casinos are located in hotels, resorts, or cruise ships. They can also be found in other entertainment venues, such as those hosting concerts or sports events. In the United States, casinos are regulated at the state level. In some states, such as Nevada and California, gambling is legal only in Las Vegas and other large cities.

In the United States, the number of casinos grew rapidly during the 1980s and 1990s, expanding outside of Las Vegas. Casinos also began appearing on American Indian reservations, which are exempt from state-level antigambling laws.

Modern casinos usually include a physical security force and a specialized surveillance department. The security forces patrol the property and respond to calls for assistance or reports of suspicious or definite criminal activity. The surveillance department operates the casino’s closed-circuit television system, sometimes referred to as the Eye in the Sky.

Most casinos offer a wide variety of games. These may be simple games of chance, such as roulette and video poker, or skill-based games, like blackjack and poker. In addition, some casinos offer traditional Far Eastern games such as sic bo, fan-tan, and pai gow.

Online casinos in Canada are ranked according to a number of criteria. These include site security, sign-up process, payment options, and game selection. They are also assessed for their regulatory body, payout speed, and loyalty rewards programs. Most online casinos also allow players to try their games for free before making a deposit.