A casino, also known as a gambling house or a gaming hall, is an establishment for certain types of gambling. It is usually combined with hotels, restaurants and other tourist attractions.
Security is a major concern for casinos, since both patrons and staff may be tempted to cheat or steal. Dealers are trained to spot blatant cheating, such as palming cards or marking dice. The tables are watched by pit bosses and table managers, who can look at betting patterns that could indicate a pattern of cheating. Elaborate surveillance systems include “eyes-in-the-sky” cameras on catwalks above the floor, which allow security personnel to watch every table, change window and doorway.
Although gambling probably existed as early as recorded history, the modern casino as an institution was not introduced until the 16th century, when a gambling craze swept Europe and Italian aristocrats held private parties at places called ridotti [Source: Schwartz]. The name is French for “house”; it is believed that this was a reference to the fact that in the old days only high rollers gambled in casinos.
The largest concentration of casinos is in Las Vegas, followed by Atlantic City and then a number of smaller venues. Some are built in conjunction with other tourist attractions, such as resorts and cruise ships, or stand alone as independent facilities. Critics argue that casinos do not bring substantial economic benefits to the surrounding community. They contend that gambling money shifts spending from other forms of entertainment, that compulsive gamblers are a disproportionate percentage of the customer base, and that lost productivity due to problem gambling offsets any revenue gains.