Casino is a gambling establishment where various games of chance are played. While gambling likely predates recorded history, with primitive protodice (cut knuckle bones) and carved six-sided dice found in ancient archaeological sites, the modern casino was first developed in Europe during the 16th century when a gambling craze swept across the continent. Italian aristocrats often gathered at private clubhouses for social events called ridotti, where they could wager money on various games of chance. These venues were not legal, but they were rarely bothered by the authorities [Source: Schwartz].

Today’s casinos often include not just gaming facilities, but restaurants and entertainment venues where pop, rock and jazz musicians perform for patrons. They also offer a variety of hotel services and amenities, from high-end rooms to spas and fitness centers.

While many people think that casino games are purely luck-based, the truth is that they all have built in mathematical advantages for the house, which earns the casino large amounts of money over time. This edge can be as low as two percent, but it is enough to allow casinos to make enormous profits that pay for elaborate hotels, fountains and replicas of famous landmarks.

Because of the large amounts of cash handled within a casino, security is a major issue. While there is no way to completely prevent people from cheating or stealing, the vast majority of casinos invest significant resources in cameras and other technological measures to detect and deter suspicious activities.