A casino, also known as a gambling house or gaming hall, is an establishment for certain types of gambling. Casinos are often combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and other tourist attractions. In some countries, casinos are licensed and regulated by the government. The word casino is derived from the Italian noun cazino, which itself comes from the root caucare, meaning to gamble.
The modern casino is a highly complex affair. Casino security starts with dealers, who are trained to watch for blatant cheating like palming and marking cards or dice. Pit bosses and table managers have a broader view, observing the betting patterns of patrons to spot suspicious activity. During the 1990s, casinos dramatically increased their use of technology for surveillance. For example, some roulette wheels are electronically monitored minute-by-minute to discover any statistical deviation from expected results; and all card games have hidden cameras watching for sleight-of-hand tricks.
Casinos make money by charging a small percentage of bets, called vig or the rake, to players. This generates enough revenue to build elaborate hotels, fountains and replicas of famous towers and landmarks.
Casinos are spread all over the world, though the Las Vegas Valley is home to the largest number in the United States. Many American states amended their laws in the 1980s and ’90s to permit casinos, and they have spread across Native American reservations. Some cities, such as Paris and London, have casinos, too. Something about the casino environment seems to encourage people to try to cheat, steal and scam their way into a jackpot. That’s why casinos spend a lot of time, effort and money on security.