A casino is a large place with a variety of gambling games. It is often combined with hotels, restaurants and other entertainment facilities. The largest casinos in the world are in Las Vegas, USA and Macau, China. These are also the most visited by tourists. Gambling has been part of human culture for millennia. Evidence of simple gambling games like dice and playing cards dates from 2300 BC in China and from 500 AD in Rome. Modern casinos are much more sophisticated and use technology for security purposes and to monitor the games themselves. In the United States, chip tracking is common; in this system betting chips have built-in microcircuitry that allows casinos to track the exact amounts wagered minute by minute and detect any statistical deviations from expected results. In addition to general surveillance, cameras are used for video monitoring of card tables and roulette wheels.

The casino business is booming. The industry has expanded worldwide as governments relax their laws to permit casinos and gambling is becoming a popular pastime in many places. The United States leads the world with 2,147 licensed casinos and 619 casino hotels. Romania, the Czech Republic and Spain follow close behind. Casinos can be found in almost every country but the most famous is perhaps the Monte Carlo casino in Monaco. It is the most spectacular building in town and was featured in Ocean’s Eleven. It lives up to its surface decadence with 800 gaming tables and 1000 slot machines.