A casino is a gambling establishment where people play games of chance. While the casino’s entertainment options (musical shows, lighted fountains and shopping centers) and amenities help draw in patrons, the billions of dollars raked in by casinos each year come from gambling — specifically, slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps, poker and other table games.
Casinos are often designed with a theme, such as zombies or the Wild West, and feature themed slot games, tables, and even whole sections of the building that follow the same motif. They also offer a variety of other games, including video poker, baccarat, and craps.
While gambling predates recorded history – primitive protodice and carved knuckle bones have been found at archaeological sites – the modern casino as we know it developed in the 16th century, when a gambling craze swept Europe. In those days, aristocrats and other wealthy patrons enjoyed private parties in places known as ridotti, where they could gamble and socialize.
The modern casino is much more than a room filled with slot machines, however. Elaborate surveillance systems keep an eye on the casino floor from every angle, and security personnel in a separate room filled with banks of monitors can adjust the camera’s focus to focus on particular suspicious patrons. Windows are often kept closed and there are no chiming clocks, so that gamblers can lose hours without realizing it. And the costs associated with compulsive gambling – addiction treatment and lost productivity – can offset any positive economic impact of a casino.