A casino is a building that houses a variety of gambling games. In the United States, this often refers to a place where table games like blackjack and craps are played. It may also refer to a place where slot machines are played or to an organization that oversees these types of games. Casinos often feature elaborate interior design and a high-quality selection of amenities such as luxury hotels, restaurants, and spas. Some casinos offer a mix of these and other activities, such as live entertainment and gambling tournaments.

The word casino comes from the Italian for little house and originally referred to an elegant social club where people could meet to gamble. But when public gaming houses were banned in the 18th century, people began to seek out other ways to gamble. Casinos grew in popularity and were soon found in cities across Europe, particularly those with strong Italian populations. In the United States, casino gambling first appeared in Nevada, and later on American Indian reservations.

Every game in a casino has a house edge, which means that the odds are against you winning—every time. The mathematics behind this concept is complex, but the bottom line is that casinos make money by separating you from your money. Casinos are constantly deploying new technologies to enhance security and monitor games; for example, some tables use chips with built-in microcircuitry that allow casinos to track exactly how much money is being wagered minute by minute, and roulette wheels are electronically monitored regularly to detect any statistical deviation from expected results.