What Is a Casino?

A casino is an establishment for certain types of gambling. Some casinos are stand-alone facilities; others are combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, and/or cruise ships. In addition to gaming tables and slot machines, some casinos feature live entertainment.

Gambling in some form has been part of human culture for millennia. Evidence of dice games goes back to 2300 BC, and card games were likely invented around 500 AD. In modern times, the first casinos appeared in Europe during the 19th century. The most famous European casino is Monte Carlo, which has been a major source of income for the principality of Monaco since 1863.

The casino industry is regulated worldwide. In the United States, federal and state laws regulate the operation of casinos. In some jurisdictions, casinos are subject to additional regulations from local governing bodies. For example, the city of Las Vegas has a gaming commission that oversees the operations of its casinos.

Casinos employ security measures to deter cheating and theft by both patrons and staff. In addition to the obvious physical security measures, many casinos have technology that monitors game results and player activity. For example, “chip tracking” allows the casino to know exactly how much is wagered minute by minute on each game, and roulette wheels are electronically monitored so that statistical deviations from expected outcomes can be quickly detected. Some casinos also have catwalks over the gaming floor, which allow surveillance personnel to look down through one-way glass at players and the action on the games.