A casino is an establishment for certain types of gambling. Casinos are often combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops and/or cruise ships. Several states have legalized casinos, including Nevada, New Jersey, Delaware, and Rhode Island. In addition, many Indian reservations host casinos, which are generally exempt from state anti-gambling laws.
Gambling in all its forms-from a casual game of dice or cards with a friend to the high-stakes table games found at Monte Carlo and Foxwoods-has been a part of human culture for millennia. Evidence of betting with dice dates back to 2300 BC, and playing card games became popular in Europe in the 1400s. Today, casino gambling is a worldwide industry and, according to some estimates, it generates more than $100 billion a year in revenue.
Most casino games have mathematically determined odds that guarantee the house a profit. The house edge is most pronounced in games with the highest stakes and the most excitement, such as baccarat, craps, and roulette. The house also takes a percentage of the money bet by players in poker and other games that involve skill, which is known as the rake.
In the modern world of casinos, cameras and electronic monitoring systems are standard features. For example, chip tracking allows casinos to see exactly how much money is being wagered minute by minute and alert patrons to any suspicious activity; automated roulette wheels are electronically monitored regularly so that any statistical deviation from expected results can be detected quickly. In addition to these technological advances, casinos enforce security through rules of conduct and behavior. This is especially evident at card tables, where patrons must keep their hands visible to the dealer at all times and be careful not to hide chips from view under their sleeves.