A casino, also known as a gambling house or a gaming establishment, is a building or room where people can gamble. Casinos are most commonly found in cities with large populations and are often integrated with hotels, restaurants, retail shops and other tourist attractions.

Many casinos use technology to help enforce and monitor rules and ensure fairness. In some cases, this is as simple as a camera monitoring each table, but more sophisticated systems are in place. For example, some betting chips have built-in microcircuitry that allow casinos to track exactly how much is wagered minute by minute; roulette wheels are electronically monitored regularly to discover any statistical deviations from expected results. In addition to electronic surveillance, some casinos have “eye-in-the-sky” catwalks that give security personnel a view of every table and window from a central control room.

Casinos also reward regular patrons who spend large amounts of time and money there. These rewards are called comps. They can include free hotel rooms, meals and tickets to shows. Some high rollers even get limo service and airline tickets. If you want to know more about comps, ask a casino employee.

Gambling has been around for centuries, although the exact origin is unknown. Most historians agree that it is an ancient practice and that some form of it has been in almost every society throughout history. In modern times, casinos are a major source of entertainment and tourism. They also have a significant economic impact on the communities in which they are located.