adminbclA casino is a place where people can gamble by playing games of chance and in some cases skill. Some games have a predetermined house advantage over the players, such as roulette, craps, blackjack and video poker. The casino earns money by taking a small percentage of all wagers, either through table game rakes or machine payouts. In addition, casinos also offer complimentary items or comps to gamblers such as food, drink and hotel rooms. Casinos are legal in Nevada and several other states, but are illegal elsewhere. Most casinos are owned and operated by organized crime figures or corporate businessmen with mob connections.
Casinos are a popular form of entertainment that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and income levels. In addition to offering a variety of gambling options, many casinos have restaurants, free drinks and stage shows that appeal to people of all tastes. Some casinos even offer a combination of entertainment and gambling, such as the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Gambling probably predates recorded history, with primitive protodice and carved six-sided dice found in ancient archaeological sites. However, the casino as a place where people could find a variety of ways to gamble under one roof did not develop until the 16th century when a gambling craze swept Europe and Italian aristocrats held parties in places called ridotti [Source: Schwartz].
The advent of modern casinos introduced new elements of luxury and excitement to the gaming experience. The opulent interiors, elaborate stage shows and dramatic scenery made them attractive to patrons from all walks of life. However, the glitz and glamour of casinos have attracted controversy as well. Some critics contend that casino revenue siphons spending away from other forms of local entertainment and that the cost of treating problem gambling victims undoes any economic benefits casinos might bring.
Most casinos employ sophisticated security measures to prevent cheating and stealing. Cameras monitor the casino floor, and employees watch patrons closely for signs of suspicious behavior. In addition, the casino’s mathematically determined odds guarantee a certain profit on all bets; in the case of craps and roulette, casinos keep their advantages below 1 percent to attract big bettors. Slot machines and video poker are the financial mainstays of American casinos, generating high-volume play at low coin denominations that allow for precise statistical monitoring.
In addition to cameras, some casinos use computer technology to supervise the games themselves. For example, betting chips with microcircuitry are tracked minute by minute to ensure that the casino is recouping the expected profit; and roulette wheels are electronically monitored for any deviations from their expected results.
Although the casinos’ security measures are designed to deter cheating and stealing, some patrons may be tempted to commit crimes in collusion with other patrons or on their own. Casino security personnel are trained to recognize such behaviors and to take immediate action to eject suspected violators. In addition, the routines and patterns of casino games themselves provide valuable clues to security staff; for example, the way in which dealers shuffle and deal cards and the expected reactions and motions of players at table games often follow predictable patterns that are easy for security to spot.
