The most prominent casinos, particularly those in Las Vegas, are known for their lavishness and amenities such as multiple restaurants and high-end hotel rooms. They often offer a large selection of casino games and offer players the opportunity to gamble with cash or casino chips. Guests can also take advantage of the many live entertainment events that are hosted at these venues.
Gambling has been a part of human culture for millennia. Archeological evidence of dice gaming dates to 2300 BC, and card games appeared in the 1400s. During the latter half of the 20th century, legalized gambling became commonplace around the world. Casinos, which are commercialized gambling houses, evolved from these early gaming establishments.
While casino games are often characterized as luck-based, some involve skill. In games where players compete against the house, such as blackjack or poker, a mathematical analysis of optimal play is used to determine the house edge. The casino then earns money either by taking a percentage of each pot or charging an hourly fee to players.
Casinos also employ a variety of security measures. Because large amounts of money are handled within a casino, both patrons and staff may be tempted to cheat or steal, in collusion or independently. To counter this, casinos use security cameras throughout their facilities and provide training to their employees on detection of deception and dishonesty. In addition, many casinos use technology to monitor and oversee the games themselves. For example, betting chips have built-in microcircuitry that interacts with electronic systems to allow casinos to supervise the exact amounts wagered minute by minute; roulette wheels are electronically monitored to discover any statistical deviation from their expected results.