A Casino, also known as a Gambling House, is an establishment where games of chance are played. While casinos add luxuries to help draw in patrons such as restaurants, stage shows, free drinks and elaborate decorations, the bulk of their profits are earned from gambling activities. Slots, blackjack, roulette, baccarat, craps and keno are all examples of gambling games that make up the core of casinos.

Modern casino security has gone beyond the traditional guards at the doors and windows to high-tech “eye-in-the-sky” surveillance systems that monitor every table, window and doorway in the facility. Each casino game also uses technology to help oversee the results. For example, betting chips have built in microcircuitry that interacts with electronic systems to allow the casinos to see the exact amount being wagered minute-by-minute and to quickly discover any statistical deviation from expected results. Roulette wheels are electronically monitored regularly to detect any abnormality in their rotation.

While most people think of a casino as a place for gambling, it has been used for other entertainment activities throughout history. Casinos have been a popular destination for people looking to relax, socialize and have fun. The earliest casinos were found in ancient Rome and Greece. In the United States, they were first introduced in the early twentieth century when legalized gambling was established in Nevada and Atlantic City.

Modern casino design tries to lure gamblers with a variety of tricks. They arrange the games in a maze-like fashion to keep gamblers moving around the floor and entice them with more gambling options. More than 15,000 miles of neon tubing adorns the casinos along the Las Vegas strip to attract passersby.