A casino, also known as a gaming house or gambling establishment, is a facility for certain types of gambling. Most casinos offer a mixture of casino games such as poker, blackjack, craps, roulette, and baccarat. Some of them also have entertainment venues where non-gambling guests can enjoy high-end concerts and other events.
In the United States, casinos are primarily located in cities and towns with substantial populations. Those in urban areas typically have higher revenues than those in suburban or rural locations. Most states have legalized some form of casino gambling. The largest casinos are in Las Vegas, followed by Atlantic City, New Jersey and Chicago.
Gambling has been a part of human society for millennia. It began in China around 2300 BC with the use of dice and was later developed into games such as baccarat, chemin de fer, blackjack, and pai gow. Some of these games involve a skill element, and players that possess sufficient skills can eliminate the inherent long-term house edge (known as the vig or margin) and make short-term gains. These players are referred to as advantage players.
In the 1990s, casinos dramatically increased their use of technology. For example, many have cameras that monitor game play on the casino floor; chips with built-in microcircuitry allow casinos to monitor exactly how much is wagered minute by minute, and are warned quickly of any statistical anomalies; and roulette wheels are electronically monitored to detect any biased behavior.