A casino is an establishment that offers a variety of gambling activities. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps and keno are among the games that provide the billions of dollars in profit raked in by casinos each year. Some casinos also offer a variety of other games, such as sic bo (popular in Hong Kong), fan-tan and pai gow.
Something about the presence of large amounts of money encourages people to cheat and steal, whether in collusion or on their own. That’s why casinos spend a lot of time and money on security. In addition to cameras, employees are trained to watch for blatant cheating and suspicious betting patterns.
Some casinos have special rewards programs for “good” players. These perks include free hotel rooms, meals and tickets to shows. They can even extend to limo service and airline tickets for big spenders. Ask the information desk about the casino’s comp program.
While gambling probably predates recorded history, the modern casino as a place to find all different kinds of gambling under one roof didn’t emerge until the 16th century. In that era, Italian nobles gathered in private clubs known as ridotti to gamble and socialize. As legalized gambling spread across Europe, these clubs morphed into what we know today as casinos.