A Casino is a facility that offers a variety of gambling activities. It is usually combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions. It is regulated by state laws and operated by a gaming control board/commission. A casino may also offer additional amenities such as a spa, fitness center or entertainment.

The precise origin of casino gambling is unknown, but it is generally believed that people have enjoyed games of chance throughout history. Some form of gaming is a popular pastime in almost every culture.

Gambling is a major source of revenue for many casinos and the casino industry is a large employer. However, critics point to the negative social and economic effects of problem gambling. They argue that gambling detracts from other forms of recreation, and that the expense of treating problem gamblers more than offsets any initial revenue generated by the casino.

All casinos must display responsible gambling signage and provide contact details for specialized support. Most states include statutory funding for responsible gambling as part of the conditions for casino licenses. In addition, casino owners are required to set aside a percentage of their gambling income for responsible gambling initiatives. Casinos are also prohibited from accepting players if they appear on a state or casino self-exclusion list. In addition, a player must be of legal age to play at a casino. This requirement is enforced by state and local governments. In the United States, the legal gambling age is 21 years of age.