A casino (also known as a gambling house, gaming hall or amusement arcade) is an establishment where people can gamble. Casinos can be incorporated in hotels, resorts, cruise ships, restaurants, or other tourist attractions. Most casinos feature a variety of gambling games, including sbobet88 roulette, blackjack, craps, and poker. A casino may also offer other entertainment such as live music and stage shows.

The concept of the casino as a place where people can find many different ways to gamble under one roof did not emerge until the 16th century, when the gaming craze swept Europe. At that time, Italian aristocrats would hold private parties at places called ridotti, where they could wager money on anything from carved six-sided dice to horse races.

Today, casinos use technology to monitor their patrons and protect their assets. Cameras are placed throughout a casino, and electronic systems track bets made minute by minute and alert casino personnel to any statistical deviation from expected results. Many casinos also have specialized chips with built-in microcircuitry that interact with electronic systems in tables, allowing the casino to verify the actual amount wagered at each game.

In addition to security cameras, casinos employ staff to monitor the activities of their patrons. This is important, because casinos are notorious for being targets of cheating and theft by both staff members and players. Because of the large amounts of currency handled within a casino, both patrons and staff can be tempted to steal, either in collusion or by independent means.