A Casino is an establishment for certain types of gambling. These gambling houses are usually combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops and other entertainment venues. They also serve as meeting places for social groups. The word Casino is derived from the Italian word casona, meaning “house of pleasure.” Gambling almost certainly predates written history, with primitive protodice (cut knuckle bones) and carved six-sided dice appearing on ancient archaeological sites. However, the modern casino as an organized place for gambling did not develop until the 16th century.
The casino industry is a highly competitive one, with billions of dollars raked in every year by operators. Casinos rely on noise, light and excitement to attract and retain customers. While acrobatic shows, shopping centers and lavish hotels help to draw in visitors, it is the games of chance that generate most of the revenue for casinos.
With large amounts of money changing hands, casinos must be vigilant against cheating and stealing by patrons. Security starts on the casino floor, where employees keep close watch over each game and its patrons. Dealers are trained to spot blatant attempts at cheating, such as palming or marking cards, and to note patterns in bets that could signal collusion between players. A higher-up observes each table with a “eye in the sky” system that can zoom in on specific tables and focus on suspicious gamblers.
Comps, or complimentary goods and services, are offered by many casinos to encourage high-volume gamblers to spend more time and money at their facilities. These may include free rooms, food and drinks, show tickets and even limo service.