A casino is a place where people can gamble and play games of chance. It can be a huge resort in Las Vegas or a small neighborhood gambling joint. While casinos often have a reputation for being smoky and seedy, they also offer glamour, entertainment and fun. Many people enjoy taking weekend trips to the local casino with friends or family members to try their luck at winning a jackpot.
The casino industry is a lucrative one. By some estimates, it generates more than $100 billion per year worldwide. However, it is not without its risks. Gambling addiction is a serious problem, and research indicates that five percent of all casino patrons are addicted to gambling. This group alone generates 25 percent of all profits for casinos, and it is estimated that the costs associated with treating compulsive gamblers can outweigh any economic benefits a casino may bring to its community.
When most people think of a casino, they envision one of the massive Las Vegas megaresorts that blaze with neon lights and offer a variety of gambling options. But casinos come in all shapes and sizes, from glitzy, multi-story entertainment complexes to small businesses that are defined by the type of gambling they offer rather than by their flamboyance. In addition to offering a wide range of games, casinos often employ a host of tricks designed to attract and entice gamblers. For example, slot machines are designed to appeal to the senses of sight and sound—the sounds produced by spinning reels or dropping coins are electronically tuned to a musical key that is pleasing to the ear. Tables and slot machines are illuminated with bright colors and flashing lights to draw the attention of potential customers. Waiters circulate throughout the casino to serve drinks, including alcoholic beverages.
Casinos are also known for their high-tech surveillance systems. Cameras mounted in the ceiling monitor every table, window and doorway, and they can be adjusted to focus on suspicious patrons. These cameras are constantly monitored by security workers in a room filled with banks of computer screens. In addition to monitoring the activities of casino guests, security cameras can be used to monitor and control video poker and other automated games.
Although gambling probably predates recorded history, the modern casino was born in Europe during the 16th century as a result of the popularity of a gambling craze that spread throughout Europe. Italian noblemen began hosting private parties at their homes, called ridotti, where they could participate in gambling despite the fact that it was illegal to do so in public. From these early social gatherings, the concept of a casino was developed. In the early 1900s, gangsters realized the potential profits to be gained from a legalized gambling establishment in the United States and invested large sums of money in Reno and Las Vegas. They soon became more than just financial backers; they took sole or partial ownership of some casinos and influenced the outcome of games by intimidating casino personnel.