A casino is a gambling establishment offering a wide variety of gaming options. It is a business that generates billions of dollars each year for owners, corporations, investors, and Native American tribes. It also provides millions in revenue for state and local governments through taxes and fees.
The term is derived from the Latin casinum, meaning “little house.” The first casinos were small, country houses or lodges equipped with gambling devices and tables. Today’s casinos are designed to entice gamblers with sights, sounds, and scents. The color scheme is often red, black, or green and the floors are covered with carpeting. The noise level is high and the games are reminiscent of old-fashioned mechanical arcades, with bells and whistles to attract attention. The casino’s security department is generally divided into a physical force and a specialized surveillance unit.
Gambling has been a part of human society for millennia. The oldest evidence of it dates back to 2300 BC in China, when dice were discovered. Later, playing cards became popular and by the 1400s, baccarat was introduced. In modern times, the largest casinos are found in Las Vegas. In 2004 Nevada had seventeen commercial casinos and eight racetrack casinos (racinos) that feature slot machines and race horses. The number of casinos in the world continues to grow, and they are becoming more widespread as states legalize them. A recent Gallup Organization poll indicated that 30% of respondents reported visiting a casino in the previous year.