What Is a Casino?

A casino is a gambling establishment where gamblers risk their money against one another. The word is derived from the Italian casona, diminutive of casa (house). Gambling has been a part of human culture for millennia, with the first casinos appearing in Europe in the late 19th century. Most of today’s casinos are located in cities such as Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Macau. A few are found on American Indian reservations, which are exempt from state antigambling laws.

Aside from the gambling action, casinos offer live entertainment and top-notch hotels, restaurants and spas. They also host special events such as weddings and concerts by famous musicians like Frank Sinatra, Celine Dion and Rod Stewart. The Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, for example, is known for its Circus Maximus Showroom, which hosts renowned celebrities and entertainers.

Casinos have extensive security systems. Security personnel on the floor keep their eyes peeled for blatant cheating such as palming cards or marking dice. Each table game has a pit boss or manager, whose job is to watch the patrons to make sure players are not swapping chips, stealing cards or otherwise altering the outcome of a hand. Casinos use cameras to provide an “eye-in-the-sky” view of the entire gaming floor and can focus on a suspicious patron by computer control.

Modern casino technology goes a long way to ensure the fairness of games. For instance, roulette wheels are electronically monitored minute-by-minute to discover any statistical deviations from expected results; and the betting chips have built-in microcircuitry that is interlinked with the casino’s system so that the exact amount of money wagered is known at all times. Gaming mathematicians and computer programmers perform this vital work for casinos.