A casino, also known as a gambling house or a gaming establishment, is a place where people can gamble and win money. Most casinos have gaming tables and slot machines, and some even offer live entertainment such as shows or sports events. A casino may be located in a hotel, an amusement park, on a cruise ship or at another site.

The casino industry is regulated in many jurisdictions and is a significant source of income for governments. The number of casinos has increased steadily in recent years, as more states have legalized gambling.

Casinos rely on security measures in addition to technology, such as cameras and computers that monitor games for suspicious betting patterns. Dealers have an eye for blatant cheating such as palming, marking or switching cards or dice, and table managers and pit bosses have a broader view of patron activity to spot suspicious bets. Electronic systems in the table games like “chip tracking” allow casinos to monitor the exact amount wagered minute by minute, and roulette wheels are electronically monitored for statistical deviations.

While gambling likely predates recorded history, the modern casino as a gathering place for a variety of games is generally attributed to Venice in the 16th century. This four-story building, called the Ridotto, featured rooms for primitive card games and a selection of food and drinks to keep the players happy. Today, casinos primarily generate revenue from a variety of table and slot machine games that provide a mathematically predictable long-term advantage to the house (known as the house edge), but some have a skill element and therefore a lower advantage.