A casino, also known as a gaming house or a gambling establishment, is a place where people can gamble. The term is derived from the Latin word cazino, meaning “to risk.” Gambling has been a part of human culture for millennia. The earliest games were based on chance, with dice and tiles predating cards by centuries. Casinos are usually combined with hotels and resorts, restaurants, retail shops, and other tourist attractions. Some casinos are operated by a government entity, while others are private corporations. In either case, they are regulated by law to ensure honesty and integrity in operations.

Most casino games have a built-in long-term advantage for the house, called the vigorish or house edge. However, some casino games have a skill element, and players with sufficient skills can eliminate the house advantage, earning a profit. These players are called advantage players. Those who cannot overcome the disadvantages of a game are called degenerates.

Most casinos have a large number of slot machines and other electronic gaming devices, but they also offer table games like blackjack and poker. Table games require interaction between players and a dealer, and encourage socialisation while allowing participants to test their skill against other participants. Most casino table games require strategic thinking and decision-making, and they can involve significant amounts of money. The earliest such games date back to 2300 BC China, with playing cards appearing shortly thereafter. Roulette was a popular casino game in France in the 18th century, and American casinos soon adopted it.