A casino is a gambling establishment that offers a variety of gambling games. It also serves drinks and food and often includes entertainment such as shows or closed-circuit broadcasts of sports events. Many casinos have a luxury environment and offer comps to frequent gamblers.

Gambling has been a popular form of entertainment since ancient times. The precise origins are unknown, but it is widely believed that gambling in some form has been present in almost every society in history. Modern casinos have been created in many different places, including cities, states, and Native American nations. The casino business is a huge industry that provides jobs and taxes to communities in which it operates.

The elegance of the spa town of Baden-Baden first made it a playground for royalty and European aristocracy 150 years ago, and its casino has long attracted visitors with its opulent rooms, red-and-gold poker tables, and dozens of roulette and blackjack tables. Today, visitors are a bit more diverse—and much wealthier—but the casino still draws people from across the globe seeking excitement and the chance to win big.

While the reputation of casino as seedy backroom gambling parlors still exists, most are large, lawful operations that provide safe environments in which to eat, drink, watch live entertainment (or closed-circuit broadcasts), and play games like slots, baccarat, or blackjack. In addition to the obvious security measures, most use technology to monitor betting activity minute by minute and quickly discover any statistical deviation from expected values.