A casino is an establishment for gambling. It features a wide range of games, including roulette, blackjack, poker and slot machines, as well as live entertainment, hotel rooms, spas and restaurants. Some casinos are famous, such as the Bellagio in Las Vegas, which has featured in many films and TV shows and is a must-see attraction for visitors to Sin City. Others are renowned for their elegance, history or location, such as the Casino de Monte-Carlo in Monaco or the Casino Lisboa in Lisbon.

Although gambling likely predates recorded history, the modern casino as we know it developed during the 16th century when a gambling craze swept Europe. Aristocrats would gather at gaming clubs called ridotti, where they could play a variety of gambling games in one place without being bothered by the authorities.

Casinos make money by charging a “vig,” or commission, on bets placed by patrons. Depending on the game, this may be as low as two percent or as high as 20 percent of the total amount of bets. This gives the casino a virtual assurance of gross profit, even if some bettors lose more than they win. To further increase profits, casinos provide big bettors with extravagant inducements such as free spectacular entertainment, limousines and other luxury transportation, reduced-fare hotel accommodations and room service.

Something about gambling (perhaps the presence of large sums of cash) seems to encourage people to cheat and steal, either in collusion or independently. As a result, casinos spend a lot of time and money on security.