A casino is a place for certain types of gambling. Most casinos are operated by private businesses and often are located in places that are famous for tourism or are otherwise known for gambling, such as Las Vegas and Macau in Asia. Some casinos are also built near or combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops and even cruise ships. Many states now allow residents to gamble at both land-based and online casinos.

Gambling has been part of human civilization for millennia, with dice appearing around 2300 BC, and the first recorded card game in the 1400s. Modern casinos are usually large, luxurious facilities that offer a variety of games to the public, from traditional table games such as blackjack and roulette, to random number games such as bingo or poker. Gaming machines, which have a mechanical advantage over players, are the economic mainstay of most casinos. They generally have a minimum pay-out percentage and can be adjusted to generate desired profits.

Table games, which involve one or more players competing against the house rather than other patrons, and are conducted by croupiers, are another important source of income for casinos. These games include the game of baccarat, which became popular in the 1980s and is now played worldwide, along with other classics like blackjack, craps, and roulette.

In order to protect their profitability, casinos have a variety of security measures in place. These typically include a physical presence and visible security personnel, and a requirement that all patrons have identification. There are also numerous methods of preventing cheating and stealing, both by patrons and employees.