A casino, also called a gambling house or a gaming palace, is an establishment for certain types of gambling. It is often combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops or cruise ships and may be open to the public or exclusively for members. Some casinos host live entertainment events, such as concerts or stand-up comedy. Some are built in exotic locations, such as Venice, Monaco or Singapore.
The word casino comes from the Latin casinum, meaning “house of games.” Gambling has been a part of human civilization for millennia. Evidence of dice was found in China in 2300 BC, and the first game still played today-baccarat-appeared in the 1400s. Today, casinos are legal in a majority of countries around the world and are a major source of revenue for many governments.
Modern casinos use technology to monitor and regulate their operations. For example, some use microcircuitry in betting chips to enable them to keep track of how much each patron wagers minute by minute, and alert them if the odds of a game change; roulette wheels are regularly monitored electronically for any statistical deviation from expected results. In games that involve skill, such as blackjack and poker, the casino usually earns money through a rake (commission) from each hand or session.
Macau, East Asia’s version of Las Vegas, is home to six of the top 10 casinos in the world, led by the Grand Lisboa. This dazzling complex lives up to its surface decadence, with 800 gaming tables and thousands of slot machines spread over several large and lavishly decorated floors.