A casino, also known as a gaming establishment or a gambling hall, is a place where people can gamble money or other items of value on games of chance. These games can include traditional card and table games, as well as more modern video lottery machines such as slot machines. A casino may also offer sports betting, entertainment, and dining. The casino industry is highly competitive, and casinos often offer substantial inducements to attract and retain customers. These can include free or discounted travel, hotel rooms, meals, drinks and cigarettes while gambling, and other merchandise and services.
Gambling, in one form or another, has been part of human culture for millennia. The first recorded use of a dice game dates from 2300 BC, when Chinese blocks were discovered with markings that looked like dice. Dice games became widespread in Rome, and card games arrived shortly thereafter. Today, casinos make billions of dollars each year from patrons who risk their cash and casino chips on various possible random outcomes or combinations of outcomes.
Because of the large amounts of currency handled within a casino, both patrons and staff may be tempted to cheat or steal, either in collusion or independently. To prevent this, most casinos employ several security measures. For example, some casinos utilize specialized “chip tracking” systems that enable them to monitor the exact amount of money wagered on each game minute by minute; other casinos use automated, computerized roulette wheels that are electronically monitored to quickly discover any statistical deviation from expected results.