A casino, also called a gambling hall or gaming house, is a building where people can play various games of chance for money. Casinos are most often associated with Las Vegas, although they can be found in many states. Many casinos offer free food, drinks and entertainment to attract players. Casinos also pay players “comps” (free goods or services) based on the amount of time and money they spend on the premises.

Something about the nature of gambling seems to encourage cheating and scamming, so casinos devote a significant amount of time and resources to security. Casino security personnel have a wide variety of surveillance technologies at their disposal, including video cameras and infrared detectors. Most importantly, they constantly patrol the floor, observing and watching for patterns of behavior that might indicate a patron is cheating or attempting to steal from other players. In addition to on-floor staff, casinos employ pit bosses and table managers who have a more comprehensive view of the tables, looking for things like tampering with cards or dice.

While gambling probably predates recorded history, the modern casino as a place where gamblers can find a variety of different ways to wager under one roof didn’t develop until the 16th century. At the time, there was a huge gambling craze in Europe, and Italian aristocrats would hold private parties at facilities known as ridotti to indulge their passion for betting. These establishments were technically illegal, but the aristocrats knew that authorities wouldn’t interfere with a private party.