A casino is a facility where gambling activities take place. The term is often used to refer to a large building specifically designed and built for this purpose, but it can also be applied to a room or area within a hotel, cruise ship, or other establishment where gambling activities occur. Casinos also feature restaurants, entertainment, and retail shops.
Gambling has been a part of human culture for millennia. The earliest evidence dates back to 2300 BC China, with wooden blocks used in games of chance and dice appearing around 500 BC, followed by poker in the 1400s and blackjack in the 1920s. It is also believed that baccarat was first played in the 16th century and is still popular in many casinos today.
Despite the glamorous image that casinos project, they are not without their problems. Studies show that casinos do not add economic value to a community; rather they shift spending away from other forms of local entertainment and cause loss of productivity through gambling addiction. In addition, many casino patrons are addicted to gambling and the expense of treating their addictions more than offsets any financial gains.
Security starts on the floor of the casino, with employees watching the table games and their patrons for any suspicious activity. Dealers have a close-up view of the game and can easily spot blatant cheating like palming, marking or switching cards or dice. Table managers and pit bosses have a broader view of the entire table and can spot patterns in betting that may indicate cheating. Elaborate surveillance systems include catwalks in the ceiling that allow security workers to look down through one way glass on each table and slot machine.
