A casino is a gambling establishment offering various table games like poker, blackjack, roulette and slot machines. Some casinos also offer live entertainment and top-notch hotels and spas. The world’s best casinos are decadent temples of temptation, decked out with opulent furnishings and overflowing bars, where gambling is elevated to an art form.
While the first casinos were built as places for people to socialize and dance, they soon adapted to the needs of gamblers. The first casinos specialized in the most popular games of chance, such as poker and roulette, but as time went on, more games were added. The term ‘casino’ has come to refer to any gambling establishment, but the best known are those in Las Vegas, Monaco and Venice.
The history of gambling dates back millennia, with dice appearing around 2300 BC in China and playing cards emerging shortly thereafter. It is not known when the earliest casino was constructed, but the Monte Carlo Casino is often cited as the first modern casino. Located in the Principality of Monaco, it opened in 1863 and is still a major source of revenue for the country. The casino has been depicted in a number of novels and films, including Ben Mezrich’s “Busting Vegas,” which tells the story of how MIT students beat the Monte Carlo Casino.
Today, casinos are a worldwide phenomenon and operate in nearly every country on earth. The United States boasts the most casinos, with more than 2,147 operating in 619 cities. The majority of these are located in Nevada, with the remainder in Atlantic City, New Jersey; Illinois; Indiana; Washington, D.C.; and Puerto Rico. Many American Indian reservations also have casinos.
A casino’s profitability depends on its ability to attract patrons and retain them. The mathematical expectancy of each game offered gives a casino a virtual assurance of gross profit, so casinos must rely on a variety of inducements to keep their players happy. These may include free spectacular entertainment, reduced-fare transportation and luxurious living quarters.
Casinos offer a variety of table games, but their greatest strength lies in slot machine and video poker play. These games are played at a high speed, with large amounts of money changing hands quickly. The casino gains a percentage of the money wagered, either by taking a cut of each bet or by charging an hourly fee. Craps is another casino staple, but it has a much higher house edge than baccarat, blackjack or trente et quarante.
A casino’s security department is typically divided into two sections: a physical force that patrols the facility, and a specialized surveillance department that operates the casino’s closed circuit television system. The specialized department is usually composed of ex-law enforcement officers and other personnel with extensive experience in casino security. Modern casino security departments are well-equipped to prevent crime, and the industry’s vigilance has been effective in keeping casino crime rates low. The heightened security measures have also helped to improve the reputation of the gaming industry.