Casinos are gambling establishments that house games of chance and provide entertainment based on those games. They typically offer a variety of services to their patrons such as restaurants, free drinks, stage shows and dramatic scenery. A casino can be found anywhere that has a legal gambling age and can attract enough people to generate profits. The precise origins of casinos are not clear, but gambling is a longstanding tradition throughout human history. Its earliest forms include primitive protodice, and carved six-sided dice have been found in ancient archaeological sites. Casinos themselves did not emerge until the 16th century, when a gambling craze swept Europe and wealthy Italian aristocrats gathered to gamble in private clubs called ridotti. The term “casino” is thought to have derived from these Italian clubhouses.

The modern casino is a bit like an indoor amusement park for adults, with the vast majority of its profits coming from games of chance. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps, keno and more contribute to the billions of dollars that casinos rake in each year.

While musical shows, shopping centers and luxurious hotels help draw in the crowds, casinos would not exist without their gambling games. But how do they make that money, and what are the most popular casino games? This article takes a closer look at how casinos work, the history behind them and some of the dark side of the business.