A casino is a place where people can gamble and play games of chance. Some casinos also have restaurants and stage shows. The exact origin of gambling is not known, but it certainly predates recorded history. Even ancient Mesopotamia and Greece had forms of entertainment based on the element of chance. But the casino as a place for people to find a variety of ways to gamble under one roof did not develop until the 16th century. This coincided with a great gambling craze in Europe and a time when European aristocracy would often hold private parties called ridotti to enjoy their favorite past times.
In the United States, casino gambling began to grow rapidly after Nevada legalized it in 1931. Soon other states followed suit and a number of “destination” casinos opened, attracting many out-of-town visitors. Some critics argue that these visitors spend money away from other types of local entertainment and that the high cost of treating compulsive gamblers offsets any positive economic impact a casino might have.
Today’s casinos make extensive use of technology to ensure fairness to patrons. In addition to video cameras for general security, special chips with built-in microcircuitry interact with electronic systems in table games and roulette wheels to enable casinos to monitor the precise amounts wagered minute-by-minute. In this way, the casino can detect any deviation from expected results and quickly notify a suspicious patron.
Casinos are located all over the world, but these six represent the best of what the industry has to offer. The first is the Monte Carlo Casino in Macau, which exudes old school opulence turned up to 11. The next is the Wynn Macau, another example of Asian glitz and glamour. And then it’s on to Las Vegas, which boasts a reputation for offering the most exciting gaming in the world.
