A casino is a place where gambling takes place. It usually includes a variety of games, most of which involve chance and some of which require skill. It also has restaurants, entertainment venues and other attractions. Many casinos offer free drinks and stage shows to attract customers. Some casinos are regulated by governments to ensure fair play. Others are not.

Gambling probably predates recorded history, with primitive protodice (cut knuckle bones) and carved six-sided dice found in some of the oldest archaeological sites. But the modern casino as a place to find a wide variety of ways to gamble under one roof didn’t develop until the 16th century, when Venice established the first government-sanctioned gaming house called a ridotto.

Casinos make money by charging a “vig” or rake to bettors, taking a percentage of the winnings from each game played. This advantage may be less than two percent, but over millions of bets it adds up to a significant amount. Casinos also earn income by giving complimentary items to “good” players, or comping them.

A modern casino relies heavily on technology to keep its patrons safe. For example, betting chips have built-in microcircuitry that allows casino employees to monitor them minute by minute. Roulette wheels are electronically monitored to discover any statistical deviations and warn dealers. And video cameras are able to spot suspicious behavior. All of this is in addition to the more obvious security measures such as doorways, windows and mirrors.