A casino is a gambling establishment that offers a variety of games where players place bets against the house. The house usually takes a percentage of each player’s winnings. Some casinos also offer food and drinks, and some are known for their live entertainment. The word casino is derived from the Italian term for “little farm.” Casinos are licensed and regulated by governments in many countries.
In the United States, casino gambling began in Atlantic City in 1978 and spread to other locations in the 1980s. Many American Indian tribes operate casinos on their reservations and are not subject to state antigambling laws. During the 1990s, a number of American states amended their gambling laws to permit casinos.
Most modern casinos use technology to help them monitor their customers and prevent cheating. For example, some poker tables feature chips with built-in microcircuitry that allows the casino to track the exact amount of money wagered by each player minute by minute; and roulette wheels are regularly electronically monitored for statistical deviations. Casinos also use cameras and computer systems to monitor their gaming floors.
While the main function of a casino is to provide gambling services, some also offer entertainment and other amenities to attract and retain patrons. For example, the Las Vegas Caesars Palace has hosted concerts by Frank Sinatra, Celine Dion, Madonna, and Rod Stewart. The Mashantucket Pequot Indian tribe in Ledyard, Connecticut operates Foxwoods Resort and Casino, the largest casino in America, with 4.7 million square feet of gaming space. The casino also has one of the world’s largest bingo halls and five separate casinos with more than 7,000 slot machines and 17 different table games.
