A casino is a gambling establishment where people can wager money on games of chance or skill. A modern casino typically features table games like blackjack, roulette and poker, as well as slot machines and other electronic gaming devices. It may also offer a variety of other entertainment options, such as stage shows and restaurants. Many casinos are combined with hotels, resorts and other tourist attractions.
Gambling almost certainly predates recorded history, with primitive protodice (cut knuckle bones) and carved six-sided dice turning up in archaeological digs. But the first casinos arose in the 16th century during a gambling craze that swept Europe. These were usually small private clubs for Italian aristocrats, known as ridotti, where the primary focus was socializing and gambling. Although technically illegal, ridotti were rarely bothered by authorities, despite the fact that they catered to high-profile clientele.
Casinos make money by charging a percentage of the bets they handle to their patrons, known as the house edge. This can be as low as two percent, but over millions of bets it adds up. The precise amount depends on the game rules, the type of bet and the skill level of the player. Casinos try to balance the house edge against other revenue streams, such as food and beverage sales, and they spend a lot of time and money on security.
Some casinos are based in affluent cities and are open to the general public; others cater to high rollers and are restricted to members only. While the latter are generally more luxurious and exclusive, both types offer a unique and wholesome experience that is often romanticized in film and literature.
A few states have legalized casinos on their Indian reservations, and many American cities host large casinos, including Atlantic City, New Jersey and Las Vegas, Nevada. In the 1980s and 1990s, several states amended their laws to permit casinos, including Iowa, which pioneered “riverboat” casinos that operate on American Indian reservations outside state borders.
In addition to relying on technology, casinos also employ staff and enforce strict rules of conduct and behavior to discourage cheating, theft and other illegal activities. Some casinos even have catwalks in the ceiling above the casino floor, allowing surveillance personnel to look down directly on players’ actions through one-way glass.
Nevertheless, casinos have a notoriously shady reputation, partly because of their association with organized crime. During the mob’s heyday in Reno and Las Vegas, mafia figures provided the money for many of the early casinos. They also became personally involved, taking sole or partial ownership of some casinos and influencing the outcomes of games by threatening players and pit bosses. Some critics contend that the net economic contribution of casinos to their local communities is negative, because they draw business away from other forms of entertainment and encourage addictive gambling habits. These effects may outweigh any short-term profits they generate. These examples are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word ‘Casino.’ Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors.