A casino is an establishment that offers a variety of gambling activities. These establishments are governed by strict regulations and licensing requirements set forth by governmental authorities to ensure fair play and prevent criminal activities. In addition to offering gaming products, casinos often provide other forms of entertainment such as shows and dining. Casinos are commonly found in hotels, resorts, and cruise ships.

The precise origin of gambling is unknown, but it is believed that it has been practised in some form throughout history. Some of the earliest recorded casino-type games were played with a deck of cards or dice and were characterized by random events. Regardless of their precise origins, casinos are now widely used in many cultures around the world as entertainment and recreation.

Gambling has evolved into a multifaceted industry with many different types of games and strategies, but all share the common trait of requiring a certain degree of skill to succeed. The excitement of the game and the potential for winning create a thrilling experience that appeals to many people.

In modern casinos security is usually divided into a physical security force and a specialized surveillance department. The former patrols the premises and responds to calls for help and reports of suspicious or definite criminal activity, while the latter operates the closed-circuit television system. In some cases, sophisticated technological systems are also used to monitor specific games or individual players: for example, betting chips have built-in microcircuitry that allow casinos to oversee exactly what is being wagered minute by minute, and roulette wheels are electronically monitored to quickly discover any statistical deviation from expected results.