A casino is an establishment for certain types of gambling. Modern casinos are often combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and even theme parks. Some are renowned for their luxurious decor and architecture, while others are known for hosting high-profile events such as concerts and sporting matches. In some countries, casinos are operated by the government. Other casinos are owned by private individuals or corporations.
Gambling, both legal and illegal, has been part of human culture for millennia. The earliest known dice games date from 2300 BC, while the first card games appear in the 1400s. In the modern world, casinos are like giant indoor amusement parks for adults, with most of their profits coming from games of chance. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette, baccarat and other games bring in billions of dollars in revenue each year.
While elaborate themes, musical shows and shopping centers help lure gamblers into the doors, casinos would not exist without their primary draw: games of chance. This article takes a look at how casinos make their money, their history and some of the most popular games.
The word casino comes from the Italian phrase casona, meaning “small country house.” The earliest casinos were small clubhouses for people to meet for social occasions and gamble. As gambling became more common in Europe, these clubs expanded. Some were modeled after famous locations, such as Venice’s Grand Canals and Monte Carlo’s race course. Others were built from scratch. One of the most spectacular is the Venetian Macao in China, which opened in 2002 and cost $2.4 billion to build. It is the largest casino on Earth, with a gambling area covering 550,000 square feet.