A casino is a building or large room in which gambling games are played. The room is equipped with a variety of gaming tables, and machines for playing video poker, roulette, blackjack, etc. Some casinos also have entertainment or other facilities such as restaurants and bars.

Gambling has been a part of human society for millennia, with evidence dating back to 2300 BC China. Dice appeared in Rome around 500 AD, and card games in the 1400s. Modern casino gambling has evolved from the early days of gaming clubs, which were privately run and members-only. In the 1930s casinos began opening in Europe, and in the 1960s they spread to many American cities.

The largest casino in the world is located in Macau, a special administrative region of China. Its name is City of Dreams and it houses a hotel, a shopping mall, an opera house, a theatre, a night club, and a huge casino with 130 slots and 185 table games. The casino has a lot to offer the visitor, and this is why it attracts so many people from all over the world.

Casinos are regulated by law to protect their patrons and ensure the integrity of the games. To this end they employ a combination of physical security forces and specialized surveillance departments. In addition, sophisticated technology is used to oversee the games themselves. For example, betting chips have built-in microcircuitry that enables casinos to monitor the exact amounts wagered minute by minute; and roulette wheels are electronically monitored regularly for statistical deviations.