A casino is a building or large room used for gambling. It is also a place where entertainment is provided, such as live music and shows. Casinos are often combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, cruise ships and other tourist attractions. Some casinos are known for hosting professional sports teams, and many offer luxury amenities such as spas and gourmet dining.

Casinos make their money by taking a percentage of the money that passes through them. This is why they use chips instead of actual cash – it makes it easier to keep track of how much money is being lost or won. Casinos also use high-tech surveillance systems to ensure that their patrons are behaving properly.

Gambling has been around for millennia, with evidence of dice rolling in 2300 BC and playing cards by the 1400s. The modern casino began to take shape in the 1980s, when American Indian reservations and other locations outside of state antigambling laws started opening them up.

Las Vegas is the most famous casino city in the world, but they can be found all over the globe. While musical shows, lighted fountains and extravagant hotels draw the crowds, casinos would not exist without games of chance. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps and baccarat provide the billions in profits that casinos rake in each year. This article takes a look at the history behind these gambling establishments, how they stay profitable and the dark side of casino gambling.