Casino (or gambling house) is a place where people gamble on games of chance or skill. It has been estimated that there are more than 3,000 casinos and gaming houses worldwide. The United States has the largest number of casinos, and many are located in Las Vegas. Many other cities also have casinos, including Atlantic City and Chicago. Casinos are usually combined with hotels and resorts, restaurants, retail shops, and entertainment venues. They may also serve as meeting places for groups and parties.
Gambling almost certainly predates recorded history, but the modern casino as a gathering place for a variety of gambling activities did not develop until the 16th century during a gambling craze among European aristocrats. [Source: Schwartz]
Today’s casinos are designed around noise, light, and excitement. Windows and clocks are rare; instead, the interior is bathed in bright colors, often red, to stimulate and cheer the players. This ambiance helps to conceal the fact that gambling is not very pleasant for most people. It also allows people to lose track of time and spend far more than they intend to. The use of chips rather than actual cash makes the money spent less noticeable, and patrons are encouraged to drink alcohol while gambling to keep them focused on their game.
Casinos employ several security measures to prevent cheating. Besides the obvious security personnel watching over games and patrons, the casinos also employ patterns and routines to spot any deviation from normal activity. This includes the way dealers shuffle and deal cards and how players react to the games, with table managers and pit bosses watching for patterns in betting that might signal cheating or collusion. Casinos also monitor all of their electronic equipment, from video cameras to the machines themselves.