A casino is a place where people can play a variety of gambling games. It may also offer restaurants, free drinks, stage shows and dramatic scenery. Some casinos specialize in a particular type of game, while others focus on offering a wide range of options to appeal to a broad audience. In the United States, casinos are regulated by state law. The largest casinos are located in Las Vegas, Macau and China.

Gambling probably predates recorded history, with primitive protodice and carved six-sided dice found at archaeological sites. But the modern casino as a gathering place for a variety of gambling activities didn’t emerge until the 16th century, when a gambling craze swept Europe. Italian aristocrats often held parties at places called ridotti, which were private clubs where gambling was the primary activity.

While some casino games require a certain level of skill, most have built-in house advantages that make the house’s profits essentially guaranteed over time. These advantages, which are usually smaller than two percent, are reflected in the payouts for slot machines and video poker. In other casino games, like blackjack, the casino takes a small commission on the bets placed by players, a practice known as rake.

Casinos spend a lot of money on security because they want to be sure that the games are fair and that patrons don’t cheat or steal. Elaborate surveillance systems offer a high-tech eye-in-the-sky view of each table, window and doorway that can be adjusted to zoom in on suspicious patrons by security workers in a room filled with banks of monitors.