What is a Casino?

A casino is a gambling establishment where you can place wagers on games of chance. While the bright lights of Vegas and Atlantic City are what first come to mind when you think of casinos, there are plenty of them throughout the country. From the high-rise towers of Las Vegas to tiny mountain towns with 19th century Wild West buildings filled with slot machines, there are casinos to be found in every state.

The precise origin of gambling is unknown, but it has been around for thousands of years in some form or another. The ancient Mesopotamians, Greeks, Romans, Napoleon’s France and Elizabethan England all had some form of entertainment based on gambling.

Gambling in modern casinos is a multibillion dollar industry and one that continues to grow. Modern casinos are almost like an indoor amusement park for adults, offering a wide range of entertainment and attractions from lighted fountains to top-notch hotels and restaurants. But the majority of a casino’s profits are made from the actual gambling, which includes popular games such as poker, blackjack, roulette, craps and keno.

Most legitimate casinos have extremely high security levels to prevent cheating or stealing. Dealers and pit bosses keep their eyes on the games and patrons, looking for blatant cheating such as palming or marking cards or dice. Casinos also use closed circuit television to monitor their premises and to respond to any suspicious activity.