A casino is a place where people can gamble and play games of chance. It is also a popular tourist attraction. Casinos are a major source of income for many states, especially those in the US. Some casinos are very large, and some even have their own islands. Many casinos are owned by government agencies, while others are run by private companies.

A modern casino has several security measures in place to prevent cheating and stealing by patrons and employees. These usually include a physical security force and a specialized surveillance department that monitors the casino’s closed circuit television system. Casinos also enforce security through rules of conduct and behavior; for example, players at card games must keep their cards visible at all times.

Some places are known specifically as casinos, such as Monte Carlo in Monaco. Others, such as the elegant spa town of Baden-Baden in Germany, have long been renowned for their casinos, which attract royalty and aristocracy from across Europe.

Gambling has been around in some form for millennia. Some of the earliest evidence comes from 2300 BC China, where archeologists found wooden blocks used for gambling. Dice came into use in 500 BC, and playing cards rose to prominence in the 1400s. Most games of chance have a house edge, or expected value, which gives the casino an advantage over the player. This advantage is determined mathematically, and the mathematicians and computer programmers who work in this field are called gaming mathematicians or gaming analysts.