A casino is an establishment for certain types of gambling. Casinos are usually built near or combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, and other tourist attractions. Some casinos also host live entertainment events such as stand-up comedy, concerts, and sports matches. Casinos vary in size, with the largest ones being massive complexes housing multiple gaming floors, restaurants, bars, and nightclubs.

Although gambling probably existed long before written history, the first modern casino opened in Monte Carlo in 1863. It was followed by others in Paris, London, and other European cities. Many American states have banned gambling, but in the 1980s and ’90s many began to legalize casinos on Indian reservations and on riverboats.

The use of cameras to monitor patrons and employee activity is standard at most casinos. In addition, most casinos have security personnel on the floor to spot any suspicious behavior. Many games have specific patterns that security people look for, such as how the dealer shuffles and deals cards or where players place their chips on a table. These routines make it easier for security to spot something out of the ordinary.

Larger casinos often have security features such as catwalks over the tables that allow surveillance personnel to view players and their actions through one-way glass. Other casinos may employ specialized equipment such as mirrors that tilt to reflect light or microphones that pick up sounds. Other common security measures include requiring players to keep their faces covered while playing and prohibiting the removal of chips from a table without a clear reason.