A casino is an establishment for certain types of gambling. It can be found in a variety of settings from the grand casinos in Las Vegas to small neighborhood establishments. In some cases, casinos are combined with hotels or resorts. They are also often located near or on cruise ships, golf courses, and other tourist attractions. The modern casino is much like an indoor amusement park for adults, with most of the entertainment (and profits for the owners) coming from games of chance. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps and keno provide the billions of dollars in profit that casinos rake in every year.

The idea of a casino as a place to find a variety of ways to gamble under one roof began to develop during the 16th century as a gambling craze spread across Europe. It was common for European aristocrats to hold private parties at places called ridotti, where they could play a wide variety of games. While gambling was technically illegal, the aristocrats were not bothered by authorities.

Aside from the games of chance, casinos offer musical shows, lighted fountains and lavish hotels to lure customers. They also often have restaurants and bars, as well as shopping centers and other tourist attractions. In addition, they use high-tech equipment to monitor and regulate their gaming activities. For example, chips with built-in microcircuitry allow casinos to monitor betting amounts minute by minute and warn them of any anomaly; roulette wheels are electronically monitored regularly to discover statistical deviations from expected results.