A casino is an establishment for certain types of gambling. Casinos are often built near or combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, cruise ships, and other tourist attractions. Some casinos are also known for hosting live entertainment, such as stand-up comedy, concerts, and sports events.

A large percentage of casinos worldwide are owned by Indian tribes and operate under tribal gaming laws. Consequently, they are not subject to state antigambling laws. The largest casino in the United States is Foxwoods Resort Casino in Ledyard, Connecticut, which features six casinos with over 7,000 slot machines and 17 table games.

Gambling has been a part of human culture for millennia. The earliest recorded game was probably dice, which appear to have been in use around 2300 BC. Card games followed soon after, and blackjack, the most popular modern-day card game, first appeared in the early 1600s.

Casinos make money by charging fees to players for using their facilities, and by collecting a percentage of each player’s bets. The house edge is the mathematical advantage that the casino has over the player, and it varies by game. The house edge of a particular game depends on its rules, the number of decks used, and other factors.

Casinos employ mathematicians and computer programmers to calculate the house edge of their games and to develop strategies that minimize the house’s advantage. These specialists are sometimes referred to as gaming mathematicians or gaming analysts. Casinos also hire people to monitor game play and maintain the integrity of their games. In addition to general surveillance, many casinos use video cameras and computer systems that track the actions of players and dealers.