A casino is an establishment for certain types of gambling. These casinos are often built near or combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, and/or cruise ships. Many casinos also host live entertainment, such as stand-up comedy, concerts, and sports events. Casino is also a term used in military and non-military usage to refer to an officers’ mess.

A number of casinos in Europe, particularly those on the Île de la Côte d’Azur, have an exotic or historic setting, such as the Casino Estoril in Portugal (a source of inspiration for Ian Fleming’s James Bond novel “Casino Royal”). In addition to traditional casino games like roulette and blackjack, most American casinos offer slot machines and video poker. These machines account for the vast majority of casino revenue, with their high volume and speed of play at sums ranging from five cents to a dollar.

The 21st century has seen a massive expansion in the worldwide casino industry. Legalized in the United States in Nevada in 1931, casinos have become a major part of the economy in cities like Las Vegas, where they comprise nearly 40 percent of the state’s tax revenue. In addition, many states have legalized casino gaming through amendments to existing laws or by creating new ones.