A storied gambling den, this Vegas landmark lures everyone from hardened dollar spinners to curious newbies. Its bright lights aren’t just from the neon but also from the glint of hope in every gambler’s eye.
Casino is a building or large room used for meetings, entertainment, dancing, and gaming. Its name derives from the Italian word for “house,” and it is also known as a gaming hall or a gambling house. The first well-known casino was the one at Monte Carlo, which opened in 1863. The casino at Monte Carlo is widely considered to be the model for modern casinos, and it has been depicted in many works of fiction, including James Bond novels and films.
Modern casinos are generally built around a central casino area that is enclosed and secure. This area contains all the standard gambling tables and machines, as well as a number of high-end restaurants and shops. In addition, most casinos have a specialized security department that patrols the premises and responds to calls for assistance or reports of suspicious or definite criminal activity.
Gambling, in the form of games of chance, has been part of human culture for millennia, with evidence dating back to 2300 BC China. Dice and playing cards appeared soon thereafter, followed by the earliest casino-style gambling in the 1400s. Most casinos have strict rules against cheating or stealing, and employ technology to detect such activities. For example, in some casinos, the betting chips have built-in microcircuitry that allows them to be monitored minute by minute; and roulette wheels are electronically inspected regularly for any statistical deviations from their expected values.