A Casino is a place where gambling is legal and where patrons may gamble using a variety of games of chance. Casinos add a variety of luxury amenities to make gambling more fun, including restaurants, free drinks and stage shows. They may also offer reduced-fare transportation, hotel rooms and special gambling inducements for high-stakes players. The term “casino” has been used since the 16th century to describe places where gambling took place, but the modern casino with all its amenities did not appear until the 1960s.
Gambling almost certainly predates recorded history, with primitive protodice and carved six-sided dice found at archaeological sites. But a casino as a place for people to gamble in a variety of ways did not develop until the 16th century when a gambling craze swept Europe. At that time, Italian aristocrats often met in private clubs called ridotti to gamble and socialize.
Something about gambling (maybe it’s the presence of large amounts of money) seems to encourage both patrons and staff members to cheat and steal. That’s why casinos spend a lot of money and effort on security. In addition to a physical security force, most casinos have a dedicated surveillance department that operates the casino’s closed circuit television system.
Most casinos offer a wide range of card games, including the most popular game in Canada, blackjack, and the French versions of chemin de fer and trente et quarante. Those with Far Eastern roots may feature traditional games such as sic bo, fan-tan, and pai gow poker.