A casino, also known as a gambling house, is an establishment for certain types of gambling. Casinos are most often built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, cruise ships, and other tourist attractions. Some casinos host live entertainment events such as stand-up comedy and concerts.
Gambling is a pastime that has been part of human culture for millennia. Archeological evidence shows that wooden blocks were used to roll dice as early as 2300 BC, and playing cards appeared in the 1400s. Today, modern casinos are like indoor amusement parks for adults, with elaborate themes and plenty of games to choose from. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps and baccarat bring in billions of dollars in profits every year.
While casino visitors are entertained by dazzling lights, glitzy shows and lavish hotels, the money that makes casinos profitable is generated by the games of chance. Casinos have become a popular destination for travelers and vacationers, with some of the most famous casinos in the world located in exotic locales such as Venice, Monaco and Singapore.
Security in casinos starts on the floor, where staff keep an eye on patrons to make sure things are running smoothly. Dealers are trained to spot blatant cheating such as palming, marking or switching dice. Table managers and pit bosses have a broader view of the tables, watching for betting patterns that might signal cheating. All of them have a “higher-up” person tracking their performance, noting how much they win or lose and making sure they are following internal protocols.