A casino (or casino or cazino, also known as a gaming house) is an establishment that allows patrons to play games of chance for real money. Most casinos are incorporated as private businesses and owned by investors or corporations. Some are combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, or other entertainment facilities. In some countries, such as the United States, casinos are licensed by state governments. Others are operated by Native American tribes. A casino may also contain one or more gaming floors, where patrons can place bets and play table games. Casino-type games are also available at racetracks, as part of racinos, and on cruise ships.

Gambling has been around for millennia, with records of dice-playing dating back to 2300 BC in China. In modern times, the first legal casino opened in Nevada in 1931. After that, it took decades for more states to legalize casinos. Today, there are more than 3,000 casinos worldwide.

Successful casinos bring in billions of dollars each year for the companies, investors, and corporations that own them. They also generate millions of dollars for the communities in which they are located. In addition, they employ thousands of people and provide a wide range of jobs, from servers to security personnel.

Because casinos handle large amounts of money, they are susceptible to theft and fraud. To reduce the likelihood of these incidents, they use a variety of security measures. For example, some casinos install cameras with an “eye-in-the-sky” capability that can watch every table, window, and doorway. In addition, they have trained mathematicians whose job it is to analyze the results of each game and ensure the casino’s profitability.