A casino is an establishment where people can play games of chance for money. These games may include slot machines, roulette, blackjack, baccarat, craps, and more. The term casino also refers to the building that houses these games, as well as other amenities for guests like restaurants and bars. Casinos are a major source of income for many cities and states.
While musical shows, shopping centers and lavish hotels help draw in the crowds, casinos would not exist without gambling games. These games provide the billions of dollars in profits that casinos rake in every year. Slots, poker, blackjack, craps, baccarat and other table games make up the bulk of the revenue for U.S. casinos.
Gambling almost certainly predates recorded history, with primitive protodice (cut knuckle bones) and even carved six-sided dice found at the most ancient archaeological sites [Source: Schwartz]. But the modern casino, offering a variety of ways to gamble under one roof, didn’t appear until the 16th century during a gambling craze that swept Europe. Italian nobles used to gather in private gambling clubs called ridotti, and the idea spread from there.
Most casinos have multiple security measures in place to prevent cheating and stealing by patrons and employees. The most basic measure is a network of cameras located throughout the casino. Some casinos employ a special technique called “chip tracking,” in which betting chips have microcircuitry that allows the casino to monitor the amount wagered on each game minute-by-minute and quickly spot any anomaly.
Some casinos use specially trained personnel to watch over particular games and spots. These individuals can identify the telltale signs of a player trying to cheat, such as touching the cards or the dice with his hands and then moving them in a way that gives away his strategy. Others have a more global view of the casino floor and can quickly identify patterns that might indicate cheating.
In addition to these measures, most casinos have a specialized surveillance department that operates the casino’s closed circuit television system. This network of cameras is known in the industry as the eye in the sky. The specialized surveillance departments work very closely with the physical security force to prevent crime.
The Sun City Resort in Rustenburg, South Africa, is a large and spectacular casino that’s worth visiting if you have the time and money to do so. The casino has been featured in several Hollywood productions, including James Bond and Ocean’s Eleven.
The secret to winning at the casino is simple: don’t lose more than you win! The first step is deciding how much you can afford to LOSE. Then only take as much cash as you can comfortably lose, and when it’s gone, stop. This is the best way to avoid getting into trouble and having your casino experience ruined. In fact, you’ll probably have more fun and be able to stay longer if you don’t overspend. That’s because you won’t feel as guilty when you leave.
