A casino is an establishment that offers certain types of gambling. Some casinos are stand-alone facilities, while others are combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops or even cruise ships. Some casinos are also known for hosting live entertainment events such as concerts or stand-up comedy.

The word casino comes from the Italian word for “little house,” a reference to the private clubs where Italian noblemen met to gamble and socialize. The term evolved to include public houses where gambling was legalized, and later a broader sense of an establishment that offered organized games of chance. The first modern casinos were built in the United States, in Atlantic City and Chicago, but their number has exploded worldwide as American state laws changed and casinos were established on Native American reservations.

Casinos are designed around noise, light and excitement, with players shouting encouragement to one another or the croupiers behind the tables. The walls are often painted in bright, even garish colors that are intended to stimulate the players and make them lose track of time. In fact, many casinos do not display clocks at all.

In addition to traditional casino table games, most casinos offer a variety of electronic games. These machines usually have multiple paylines and are linked to a central computer that keeps track of the player’s betting activity. This technology allows the casino to monitor the amount wagered minute by minute, and to quickly detect any discrepancy.