What Is a Casino?

A casino is a building or large room where gambling games are played. It may also refer to an establishment that offers other types of entertainment, such as concerts or stand-up comedy. Casinos are usually built near or combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, cruise ships, and other tourist attractions. Some casinos are operated by government-licensed or tribal organizations. Others are run by private corporations. In some jurisdictions, casinos are illegal.

In recent years, casinos have dramatically increased their use of technology to monitor their patrons and the actual games themselves. For example, chips with built-in microcircuitry allow casinos to monitor the exact amount of money wagered minute by minute, and computer systems can warn them of any statistical deviation from expected results. Roulette wheels are electronically monitored regularly to discover any anomalies in their rotation. Many casinos now employ professional gaming mathematicians and programmers who are skilled in analyzing the probabilities of different game outcomes.

Gambling has been a part of human civilization for millennia, with evidence dating back to 2300 BC in China. Dice became popular around 500 AD, followed by playing cards in the 1400s and baccarat (also known as chemin de fer) in the European continental casinos that were most heavily patronized by the British. In the United States, baccarat was succeeded in popularity by blackjack and trente et quarante (or simply blackjack).

Some economists argue that casinos drain local communities by shifting spending away from other forms of entertainment, such as movies or concerts; by fueling gambling addictions; and by depriving workers of valuable time on the job by visiting the casino. Some states have programs to help problem gamblers, and national hotlines offer confidential assistance.