A casino, also known as a gambling house or a gaming palace, is an establishment offering certain types of gambling. Various games may be played at such casinos, including blackjack, roulette, poker, craps, and bingo. Some casinos also offer live entertainment. In some cases, casinos are combined with hotels or resorts.

In the United States, casinos are legal in most states. Several cities have become known for their casinos. Las Vegas is perhaps the most famous. Other popular destinations include Monte Carlo and Atlantic City, New Jersey. Some casinos are operated by governments or by private corporations. Others are owned by Native American tribes. The largest casino in the world is the Venetian Macau, which has 546,000 square feet of gaming space.

The precise origin of gambling is unknown, but it has long been a part of human culture. The earliest evidence of gambling dates back to prehistoric times, and throughout history it has been both accepted and regulated in many societies. Despite the fact that some people are addicted to gambling, there are ways to curb the problem and prevent gambling addiction.

In modern casinos, security is usually divided between a physical force and a specialized department that operates the casino’s closed-circuit television system (CCTV), commonly known as the eye in the sky. In addition, some casinos have catwalks that allow surveillance personnel to look down on the activities of gamblers at tables and slot machines from above.