A casino, also called a gaming house or a gambling establishment, is a building that serves as a location for certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are often combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and/or other tourist attractions. In some cases, casinos may offer tournaments and other live entertainment events. They can be found around the world, with some of the most famous located in Las Vegas, Monaco, and Macau.
The word casino is derived from the Latin casinum, meaning “house of games.” Gambling in some form has been part of human culture for millennia, with the earliest evidence dating back to 2300 BC in China, where archeologists discovered dice and other gaming devices. The modern casino industry has diversified significantly from its roots in the earliest forms of gaming. Modern casinos are often built with sophisticated architecture and design and have a wide variety of games offered.
In addition to traditional table games, many casinos feature several popular video poker machines, as well as a range of electronic slot and reel machines. Some feature live dealers and croupiers in addition to machine-based games. The majority of casinos also offer Asian games like sic bo, fan-tan, and baccarat.
Because of the large amounts of money that move through casinos, both patrons and staff may be tempted to cheat or steal, either in collusion with other people or independently. To prevent this, most casinos employ some form of security. In addition to physical security forces, specialized departments monitor and oversee casino games using closed circuit television (CCTV), and other sophisticated technology.
