A casino is a place where people can gamble. In the United States, most casinos are licensed and regulated by state governments. Some casinos are owned by private corporations, while others are operated by public agencies such as the state lottery commission. Casinos are usually located near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and other tourist attractions. Some of the largest casinos in the world are in Las Vegas, Nevada; Macau, China; and the Empire City at Leicester Square in London, England.

While gambling almost certainly predates recorded history (carved knuckle bones and primitive protodice have been found in archaeological digs), the modern casino as an establishment where various forms of gaming are under one roof did not develop until the 16th century, when a gambling craze swept Europe and Italian nobles would hold private parties at places known as ridotti. These clubs were technically illegal, but the wealthy patrons did not fear a raid by the Inquisition and rarely gave the police cause to investigate.

Today, casinos often employ security cameras, and computerized systems supervise table games, dice, and roulette wheels for statistical deviations from their expected values. Players’ reactions and motions are also tracked by sensors so that, if they seem suspicious, security personnel can quickly intervene. In addition to technology, casinos enforce security through rules and routines. For example, a dealer’s movements and the arrangement of betting spots on a poker table follow specific patterns.