A casino is a building or room in which gambling games are played. The term may also refer to the game itself, such as roulette or blackjack. A large casino in a tourist destination may be called a hotel and casino. The name may also be used for a gaming establishment operated by a government. The word is derived from the Latin casa, meaning “house”.

The development of casinos as a central location for various forms of gambling predates recorded history. Primitive protodice and carved six-sided dice have been found on archaeological sites, but the modern casino as a place where patrons can find a variety of ways to gamble under one roof did not develop until the 16th century during a craze for European gambling. These casinos, often called ridotti, were usually held in private by wealthy individuals as a way to socialize with others of similar interests.

Among the most popular casino games are slot machines. The biggest casinos in Las Vegas and Atlantic City feature thousands of slots alongside hundreds of table games. Dice games such as baccarat, chemin de fer, and yahtzee are also very common in casinos. Almost all casinos have poker tables, as well.

In the United States, the proliferation of casino gambling began in the 1970s as more states legalized it. State officials recognized that the casino industry could generate huge sums of money and attract tourists to the state, making the economy more resilient during hard times.