A casino, also known as a gambling house or a gaming establishment, is a place where people can gamble on various games of chance. Many casinos offer food and drinks, and some even host live entertainment. The precise origin of gambling is unknown, but it is believed to have existed in some form throughout history. A 2005 survey found that in the United States, patrons made more visits to casinos than to major league baseball games or to any other type of professional sports event, and more than to Broadway shows.

Casinos use a variety of psychological techniques to encourage gamblers to play. For example, they may offer free drinks or snacks and provide a noisy atmosphere. Many casinos also have stage shows and dramatic scenery to create a fun and exciting environment for their visitors.

One of the biggest challenges for casinos is ensuring that their gambling operations are honest. For this reason, casinos have strict rules and procedures to prevent fraud or cheating by their customers. For example, they usually only accept chips instead of paper money to avoid counterfeiting and theft, and they use cameras and security monitors to keep watch over their guests. Additionally, they require customers to show identification before allowing them to gamble.

Casinos also take measures to protect their employees and their inventory. They hire physical security forces to patrol the premises, and they often have a separate specialized surveillance department that operates closed circuit television systems. These departments work closely together to detect suspicious or definite criminal activity.