A casino, also called a gaming house or a gambling establishment, is an establishment that offers various forms of gambling. Casinos are usually built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, cruise ships, and other tourist attractions. They often feature live entertainment, such as stand-up comedy and musical performances. Some casinos have a strong focus on customer service and offer perks like discounted hotel rates, free show tickets, and other rewards for regular gamblers.
Casinos earn billions of dollars each year in profits for the owners, shareholders, and investment banks that finance them. They are also a major source of revenue for state and local governments, as well as for charitable organizations and educational institutions. The majority of casino profits come from table games such as blackjack, roulette, craps, and baccarat, but they also include video poker and slot machines.
While gambling probably existed as early as recorded history, the modern casino as a place for a variety of different ways to gamble came into being in the 16th century. European aristocrats would gather at places called ridotti to enjoy themselves and their favorite games of chance, even though such activities were technically illegal.
The modern casino is a huge enterprise that requires extensive infrastructure and personnel to operate. Security staff keep watch on the floor to ensure that blatant cheating and other criminal activity is not taking place. They can easily spot unnatural betting patterns on the tables or the movements of a suspicious patron, thanks to the way games are played and the expected reactions of players. Cameras mounted in the ceiling provide a high-tech eye-in-the-sky view of the entire casino, and can be adjusted to focus on specific areas or suspicious patrons.