A Casino is a gambling establishment where patrons gamble on games of chance. Most casinos offer a wide range of games, including blackjack, roulette, craps, poker, and slot machines. Some casinos also offer a variety of Far Eastern games, such as sic bo, fan-tan, and pai-gow.

While gambling in some form probably predates recorded history, the modern casino as we know it developed in the 16th century during a European gambling craze. Prior to this, wealthy Italian aristocrats would often hold private parties at their homes known as ridotti, where they could indulge in their favorite pastime without fear of legal repercussions.

Casinos are designed to maximize profits by accepting all bets within an established limit and providing a mathematical expectation of winning to all players. This makes them very popular with the public, who enjoy a little risk and big payouts.

In addition to the traditional casino games, some modern casinos include entertainment and night clubs on their premises. These facilities are especially popular with visitors from overseas and may feature a stage, dance floor, and cocktail service.

The largest casinos in the world are found in the USA and China, with both regions poised to drive growth in this sector over the next few years. In the USA, the most famous casino is the Bellagio in Las Vegas, which became internationally known thanks to the movie Ocean’s 11. The top 10 largest casinos by square footage include the Venetian and City of Dreams in Macau.