A casino is an establishment for gambling. It features games of chance, including slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps and keno. Some casinos also have entertainment venues such as theaters, musical shows and restaurants. Casinos are often built near or combined with hotels, resorts, retail shops, cruise ships and other tourist attractions.
Modern casinos rely heavily on technology. Video cameras constantly monitor patrons to detect any deviation from the expected results of a game. Computerized systems in table games like roulette, for example, monitor the exact amounts that each player places minute by minute to discover any discrepancies; and automated “chip tracking” systems convert betting chips into a digital format that can be monitored electronically.
To keep gamblers happy, casinos offer free food and drink. In addition, windows and clocks are rarely visible on the casino floor, allowing gamblers to spend hours at a time without realizing how much time has passed (and how much money they have lost). Casinos also use chips instead of cash; this helps players lose track of their expenditures by making them less tangible.
While gambling has been around for centuries — primitive protodice and carved six-sided dice have been found in archaeological digs — the casino as we know it today began to develop in the 16th century. At that time, European aristocrats enjoyed private parties called ridotti where they could play a variety of gambling games; while these were technically illegal, the government didn’t bother them very much. Today, casinos are run by real estate investors and hotel chains with deep pockets; the mob’s involvement in the industry is a thing of the past.