A casino, also known as a gambling house or a gaming hall, is an establishment where people can gamble and take part in other entertainment activities. Casinos offer a variety of games, including blackjack, roulette, craps, and poker. Some casinos also have entertainment venues such as theatres and night clubs. They may also serve food and drinks. Casinos are most commonly found in Las Vegas and other areas in Nevada, but they can also be found in many other places around the world.
The precise origin of gambling is not known, but it has been present in almost every culture throughout history. The earliest records of chance-based games date from 2300 BC China, and evidence exists from ancient Rome and Elizabethan England. Modern casinos are generally large, lavishly decorated buildings that include restaurants, bars, gaming tables, and often live entertainment. They employ thousands of people and are heavily regulated by state and local governments.
Modern technology is frequently used to monitor and audit the fairness of casino games. For example, in table games, chips with built-in microcircuitry interact with electronic systems to allow casinos to oversee the exact amounts of money wagered minute by minute and to detect any statistical deviations from expected performance. In addition, some casinos use video cameras and computers to audit the accuracy of wheel spinning and dice throwing.
Most games provide a predictable long-term advantage to the house, called the house edge or vigorish, while offering players the possibility of a short-term gain that is sometimes large. Players who possess sufficient skill to eliminate the house edge are referred to as advantage players.