A casino is a building or large room in which gambling is conducted. It may also refer to a collection of such buildings, especially in the case of those on the shores of lakes or rivers. A casino is a place where people pay to gamble, eat, drink, and be entertained. Casinos are most commonly found in cities with legalized gambling, such as those in Las Vegas, Nevada. They may also be located on American Indian reservations, where they are not subject to state laws prohibiting gambling.
The precise origin of casinos is unclear, but they appear to have evolved from games involving dice and playing cards. The modern version of a casino is an enclosed facility containing a variety of gambling games operated by croupiers. These include card games like blackjack and poker, table games such as roulette, craps, and baccarat, and video lottery terminals. In addition to these games, casinos also often feature live entertainment and lavish dining rooms.
In the United States, most casinos are legal and licensed by state governments. Most have a physical security force to patrol the property and respond to calls for assistance or reports of suspicious or definite criminal activity. The specialized casino security departments often work closely with each other.
The most famous casino in the world is the one at Monte Carlo, which opened in 1863 and is still a major source of income for the principality of Monaco. Other famous European casinos are those at Estoril, Portugal; Corfu; and Baden-Baden and Bad Homburg von der Höhe, Germany.