A casino is a place where people can try their luck at games of chance. While musical shows, lighted fountains and shopping centers help draw the crowds, casinos would not exist without the billions of dollars in profits they make from wagers on slot machines, blackjack, roulette and craps. In this article we’ll look at how casinos make their money, how they are regulated and what it’s like to gamble inside some of the world’s most famous casinos.

The exact origins of gambling are unknown, but evidence of it exists from the earliest times, including primitive protodice and carved six-sided dice found in archaeological digs. The modern casino, as an institution where people could find a variety of ways to gamble under one roof, did not develop until the 16th century, when the gambling craze swept Europe and Italian aristocrats held private parties in clubs known as ridotti.

Today, casinos are regulated by government agencies in many countries. They employ security forces that patrol the casino floors and watch over players from a distance with closed circuit television systems, or CCTV. In addition, specialized departments oversee table games and slot machines to watch for cheating (palming, marking or switching), money-laundering and other suspicious activity.

Some critics say that casinos do not bring much economic benefit to their host cities. They point to studies that show compulsive gambling can cause a shift in local spending away from other forms of entertainment and that the cost of treating problem gamblers can often offset any revenue generated by the casino.