A casino is a place where people gamble using cash or other value represented by chips that are issued by the casino. The games offered at casinos are based on chance, but some have an element of skill. Most casinos offer both table and machine gambling. The earliest known casino was the one at Monte Carlo, established in 1863. Casinos earn billions of dollars annually for owners, investors, and state and local governments that tax them. They also provide jobs and are important sources of entertainment in many communities.
In the United States, casino gambling is legal in 40 states. The largest concentration of casinos is in Las Vegas, Nevada; second is Atlantic City, New Jersey; and third is Chicago. Other large cities that have casinos include Denver, Texas; Houston, Illinois; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Casinos are often built near riverboats or on land owned by Native American tribes. In addition to gambling, some casinos feature restaurants, hotels, and other amenities.
Gambling probably predates recorded history, with primitive protodice and carved six-sided dice being found in archaeological digs. But the modern concept of a casino, where people could find a variety of ways to gamble under one roof, did not develop until the 16th century during a gambling craze in Italy. Aristocrats gathered in private clubs called ridotti to gamble; these were not technically casinos because they did not accept public wagers, but they were close.
Modern casinos are often large and lavish, featuring expensive restaurants, free drinks, and stage shows. The walls and ceilings are frequently decorated in bright colors, such as red, that stimulate the senses and help patrons forget about time (no clocks are displayed). A casino’s security is a high priority; it employs cameras with a high-tech “eye in the sky” system that can monitor every table, window, and doorway at once. Casinos reward loyal patrons with comps, or complimentary goods and services, such as free rooms, meals, drinks, and show tickets.