A casino is an establishment for certain types of gambling. Most casinos are combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, and/or other tourist attractions. A casino may also be known as a gaming house or a gambling hall. The precise origin of gambling is not known, but it has been a part of human culture for millennia in various forms.

There are three general categories of casino games: gaming machines, table games, and random number games. Gaming machines are typically played by one patron at a time and do not require the involvement of casino employees. Table games involve a wager against the house and are conducted by croupiers or dealers. In casino poker, the house earns money by taking a percentage of each pot or charging an hourly fee. Random number games use a random number generator to determine the outcome of a game.

Modern casinos make extensive use of technology. For example, video cameras monitor tables and slot machines to ensure that bets are placed correctly; computer programs regularly oversee the statistical expected return on each machine and warn of any unusual results; and roulette wheels are electronically monitored for anomalies. In addition, casinos employ gaming mathematicians to develop optimal strategies for players and to help with security issues such as card counting.