A casino (from the Italian for ‘little country house’) is a place equipped with gambling devices, such as slots or tables, where patrons can play games of chance. Some casinos are owned by governments and operate under their license; others are independent entities that pay a fee to use the facilities. The classic example, and the best-known, is that at Monte Carlo in Monaco.

A very large number of casinos are operated in the United States, with the greatest concentration in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. Other large centers include Atlantic City and Chicago. Many state governments regulate and tax casino gambling, either directly or indirectly. In many cases the casinos are owned by private corporations, but some public corporations also own them.

Casinos are vulnerable to fraud and theft by both patrons and employees. To combat this, most casinos employ security measures including closed circuit television and other electronic surveillance systems. Many have catwalks in the ceiling above the gaming areas that allow security personnel to look down, through one-way glass, on activities at the tables and machines.

Players looking for safe online casinos can whittle down the options by using filters like ‘Provably Fair’, game variety, and the ability to deposit and withdraw in their local currency. Other important considerations are the number of available bonuses and their terms and conditions. It is also a good idea to check whether a casino offers payment methods popular in Canada, such as PayPal, Neosurf and Instadebit.