A casino is a building or large room used for gambling. It is also a place where people can enjoy entertainment, such as music and dance. Some casinos are integrated with hotels, resorts, restaurants, and retail shops. Other casinos are free-standing establishments. In the United States, there are over 1,000 casinos. The largest is in Las Vegas, Nevada. Other major cities with casinos include Atlantic City, New Jersey, and Chicago.
Casinos are regulated by state law and often provide many different games. Some of these games are traditional table games, such as blackjack and roulette, while others are more modern and electronic in nature, such as video poker and slot machines. Some casinos offer a wide range of betting options and have special areas for sports and horse racing bettors. In addition, some casinos have catwalks in the ceiling above the casino floor that allow surveillance personnel to look directly down, through one-way glass, on the activities at the tables and slots. In recent years, some urban areas have tried to build casinos downtown in an attempt to boost local economic growth. However, research has shown that tax revenue projections by casino companies are often overstated and that the economic benefits of a casino fade over time.