A casino is a gambling establishment that offers games of chance. In some countries, casinos are legally required to enact certain rules and regulations to protect the players from fraud. In addition, they must be monitored by a professional gaming analysis team. The members of these teams are referred to as game mathematicians or gaming analysts. They are responsible for studying game theory, house edge and variance, and provide advice to casino managers.

Gambling in some form has been part of human civilization for millennia. Archaeological evidence of dice and playing cards dates back to 2300 BC in China. Later, games of chance became an integral part of everyday life in Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, and Rome. In modern times, casinos have become a major source of entertainment and an important economic activity.

Some casino games require skill, but most are pure chance. In the latter case, the player competes against the casino rather than against other players. The most popular casino table games are blackjack, craps, and roulette, which draw a large percentage of the revenue. Table games are usually conducted by casino employees known as croupiers or dealers.

Casinos are carefully designed to influence visitor behavior and make them want to spend more money, even if they lose in the long run. They have glitzy decor and are filled with tempting slot machines and other gambling equipment. Many visitors are unaware that casinos use psychology to keep them hooked and coming back, no matter how much they lose.