A casino is a gambling establishment that offers games of chance and pays out winnings in the form of cash or credit. Modern casinos have many other features that attract customers, such as musical shows, lighted fountains and shopping centers, but they would not exist without games of chance. Slot machines, roulette, blackjack, craps and baccarat generate the billions of dollars in profits that casinos rake in each year.
The name casino derives from the Italian word for “little house,” which referenced small private clubhouses where European noblemen met to gamble during a gambling craze in the 16th century. [1] Although gambling probably existed long before that time, primitive protodice and carved knuckle bones have been found in archaeological sites. The casino as a place where people could find a variety of different ways to gamble under one roof first appeared in France. Its popularity spread throughout Europe.
Casinos are regulated by state laws to ensure honesty and integrity. They employ physical security forces and specialized surveillance departments. The former patrol the casino floor and respond to calls for assistance or reports of definite criminal activity. The latter monitor the gambling area through closed circuit television.
Most casinos earn money through gaming machines, which appeal to the public’s desire for excitement and instant gratification. Table games such as blackjack and baccarat require the intervention of casino employees called croupiers or dealers. Other games such as poker pit the players against each other and earn the casino a commission known as the rake. In these games the house always has a mathematical advantage, but skilled players can reduce it.