A casino is a place where people can gamble and play games of chance. It also provides entertainment such as shows and music. The modern casino is more like an indoor amusement park for adults, with the vast majority of the profits raked in by casinos coming from gambling. Slot machines, black jack, roulette, craps and keno provide the billions in profit that casino owners receive each year.

While gambling probably predates written history, the modern casino as a facility for a variety of different games did not develop until the 16th century. During this time, Italian aristocrats would hold private parties at their homes called ridotti, where they could engage in various forms of gambling. Although technically illegal, the aristocrats rarely got bothered by the authorities.

In addition to a host of cameras and other technological security measures, casinos enforce the rules of conduct and behavior among their patrons. Security personnel watch the patrons very carefully, and anyone acting suspiciously is immediately escorted from the premises. In many cases, the security staff is able to spot irregularities by observing the patterns and routines of how the games are played, and by watching for the reactions and actions of the other players.

In the 1990s, the use of technology in casinos increased dramatically. Video cameras monitor general activity, chips with built-in microcircuitry allow for a minute-by-minute record of exactly how much is wagered, and roulette wheels are electronically monitored regularly to discover any statistical deviation from the expected results.