A casino is a gambling establishment offering a variety of games of chance. It may also feature live entertainment and serve alcohol. It is also known as a gaming house or a gambling club. In some countries, casinos are located within resorts or hotels, while others stand alone. Several states have legalized casino gambling. Some casinos are operated by Native American tribes and are not subject to state gaming laws.

The largest casino in the world is Caesars Palace, located in Las Vegas, Nevada. It has a total of 1,324 slot machines and 185 table games, including a variety of poker games. In addition, it offers a number of high-profile entertainers, such as Celine Dion, Elton John, Mariah Carey, Rod Stewart, and Sting.

Gambling has been a part of human civilization for millennia, with evidence of the earliest games appearing in 2300 BC China. The earliest modern-day casinos appeared in the 1980s, with Atlantic City leading the way, followed by the introduction of casinos on American Indian reservations, which have been exempt from state antigambling statutes.

The word casino derives from Italian, and it is first recorded in use in 1863 at the Casino di Venezia. This beautiful venue still carries the distinction of being the oldest and largest casino in Europe, although its size is no match for Ledyard, Connecticut’s Foxwoods Resort Casino, which boasts 4.7 million square feet of gaming space. It is also home to one of the world’s largest bingo halls and a two-story arcade.