A casino is an establishment for certain types of gambling. It is often combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships, and other tourist attractions. A casino’s profit is derived from the house edge on a game’s bets. It may also generate income from other sources such as alcohol sales, food service, and entertainment. In modern usage, the word is almost always associated with a large building that contains a number of gaming tables and slot machines.

Casinos spend a great deal of time and money on security. A casino’s security department is usually divided into a physical force that patrols the premises and a specialized surveillance team that monitors closed circuit television. These personnel are trained to spot a wide range of suspicious or definite criminal activity and to alert other security people when such activity is spotted.

While casino games of chance likely predate recorded history, the modern concept of a centralized facility where patrons can find a variety of gambling options under one roof didn’t emerge until the 16th century. This development coincided with a gambling craze in Europe that saw wealthy Italian aristocrats gather in private clubs called ridotti to play card and dice games. Although technically illegal, these clubs were rarely bothered by the authorities. The popularity of these private social gatherings inspired public casinos to develop. They offered a greater variety of games than those found in ridotti and were often less expensive.