A casino is a facility for certain types of gambling. It may also be combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and entertainment venues. It may also serve as a convention center.

Historically, casinos were places where people went to gamble and spend time with friends. Often, they were owned by wealthy individuals or businessmen, as well as by organized crime figures. However, in the latter part of the 20th century, they became increasingly popular with the general public as the result of changing social norms and increased accessibility to casino games.

Modern casinos have become highly sophisticated in their operations. For example, video cameras are routinely used to oversee all aspects of gaming. Chips have built-in microcircuitry to allow them to be tracked minute-by-minute, and roulette wheels are electronically monitored regularly to discover any statistical deviation from expected results. Casinos also employ a variety of technological measures to discourage cheating and theft.

In addition, comps are given to “good” patrons, which are defined as those who play for long periods of time and bet large amounts of money. These perks can include free meals, hotel rooms, tickets to shows, limousine service, and airline flights. While this does not reduce the house edge, it does make casinos more profitable. Some economic studies have shown that casinos actually harm the economy of a community by taking money away from other forms of local entertainment and by increasing the cost of treating problem gambling.