A casino or gambling house is a facility for certain types of gambling. It is often combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping and other tourist attractions. Some casinos host live entertainment events, such as stand up comedy, concerts and sports events. In some countries, casinos are licensed and regulated by government agencies.

The precise origin of gambling is not known, but it is believed that the practice predates written history. Evidence of gambling has been found in many cultures throughout the world. The first modern casinos began to appear in the United States in the 20th century. Most states now permit casino-style gambling, although some are regulated and others limit the type of game allowed.

Casinos are primarily located in cities with significant tourism, such as Las Vegas, Reno and Atlantic City. They often feature a wide variety of gaming tables, including baccarat (which is the predominant game in British casinos), blackjack and roulette; American-style poker games like Caribbean stud and Texas hold’em; and a variety of electronic slot machines. Some casinos feature traditional Far Eastern games, such as sic bo, fan-tan and pai gow poker; and some offer local variations of games like two-up in Australia, boule and banca francesa in France and Britain, or kalooki in Germany.

Most casinos have security measures in place to ensure the safety of patrons and employees. These include armed security guards, video surveillance systems and other electronic monitoring equipment. In addition to promoting a safe environment, these technologies are useful for supervising the accuracy of games and detecting irregularities.