A casino, or gaming establishment, is a place where people can gamble and play games of chance. The precise origin of gambling is unknown, but it is commonly associated with civilizations throughout history. It is a popular pastime in many countries and is regulated by law in some jurisdictions. In the United States, there are over 1,000 casinos. The largest city by gambling revenue is Atlantic City, followed by Las Vegas and Chicago. Casinos may be standalone facilities or located within hotels, restaurants, resorts, and other entertainment venues.

The earliest known casino was in 1531, built by the Portuguese in the city of Estoril near Lisbon, and was famous for being a gathering place for spies, dispossessed royalty, and wartime adventurers – it was later used as inspiration for Ian Fleming’s James Bond novel “Casino Royale”. Today’s casinos typically offer a wide variety of slot machines and table games like blackjack and roulette. In addition, they usually have one or more bars and restaurants.

Regardless of the type of casino, all modern gaming establishments enforce security through cameras and rules of conduct and behavior. In addition, some use specialized surveillance systems to monitor activity. The security department is usually divided into two branches: a physical security force and a specialized surveillance unit.

The state of North Carolina has both retail and online casinos that feature slots, table games, and poker. It is also home to racinos, which combine traditional casino gambling with horse racing and sports betting. The state allows 18-year-olds to gamble at its casinos.