A casino is a place where people can find a variety of ways to gamble under one roof. Although gambling almost certainly predates recorded history, it did not become a widespread social activity until the 16th century when a gambling craze took hold in Europe. The term “casino” is derived from the Italian word for a small private clubhouse where aristocrats held social occasions in rooms called ridotti [Source: Schwartz]. Casinos are based on the idea of grouping a large number of different gambling activities under one roof, making it easier for patrons to choose their preferred type of entertainment.
Slot machines and table games are the bread and butter of casinos, bringing in billions of dollars in profits every year. The glamorous casinos of today look like palatial amusement parks for adults, and they attract millions of visitors from around the world every year. The gambling industry has a dark side, however, and some players lose more than they win.
Security is a huge part of the casino experience, and casinos take many precautions to ensure that their patrons’ gambling activities are secure. Besides having highly trained employees to spot blatant cheating like palming or marking cards, casinos use a number of technologies to monitor the integrity of their games. For example, a roulette wheel has a built-in microcircuitry that lets a casino oversee the exact amounts of money wagered minute-by-minute and detect any statistical deviations from the expected results.