A casino is an establishment that houses a variety of gambling games. It may also contain restaurants, bars, retail shops, and other tourist attractions. In some countries, casinos are regulated by government agencies. The word is derived from the Latin casin, which means “house.” It has been suggested that gambling in some form predates recorded history, with primitive protodice and carved six-sided dice found at ancient archaeological sites. The modern casino is generally thought to have been developed in Italy during the 16th century, when a gambling craze swept Europe and small private clubs for aristocrats, known as ridotti, were created.

The popularity of casino games grew throughout the world in the 20th century as legalized gambling spread to more and more states. In the United States, Nevada became a major center of the industry. As a result, other states sought to replicate the model and legalized casino gambling.

Casinos use a wide range of security measures to protect their patrons and property. The most important is surveillance. Casinos have one or more cameras that monitor the action at all tables and slot machines. They may also have catwalks above the gaming floor that allow surveillance personnel to look down on players.

Most casino games have mathematically determined odds that give the house a permanent edge, even in games with an element of skill like poker and blackjack. To offset this, casinos often reward their most loyal customers with free goods and services, known as comps. These can include free hotel rooms, meals, show tickets, or limo service.