A casino is a gambling establishment that houses many different games of chance and skill. It also offers free drinks and stage shows to attract people to gamble. Casinos were once the domain of gangsters, but real estate developers and hotel chains backed by deep pockets took over and bought out mob involvement. Today casinos are a world-wide phenomenon and are regulated in most countries.
The etymology of the word casino is traced to Italy, but it’s now an almost universally accepted phrase that refers to any place where gambling is permitted. As the popularity of gambling increased, so did the number and size of casinos. Today casinos are often massive complexes containing thousands of slot machines and tables. Some casinos have a theme, such as the Monte-Carlo Casino in Monaco, which has been in operation since 1863 and is still a major source of income for that tiny country.
Casinos spend a large amount of money on security because they are prone to cheating and other types of criminal activity. The security personnel in the vast surveillance rooms are able to observe every table, window and doorway from their monitors, which can be adjusted to focus on suspicious patrons at will. Casinos also use high-tech systems that track and analyze betting patterns, such as chips with built-in microcircuitry that enable casinos to supervise exact amounts wagered minute by minute, or roulette wheels that are electronically monitored to detect any statistical deviation from expected results.
