Whether it’s the iconic Bellagio in Las Vegas or a small, family-run casino in Chicago’s Chinatown, casinos are a hot spot for entertainment. The United States has more than 1,000 casinos and, according to the American Gaming Association, about 51 million people—about a quarter of all Americans over 21—visited one last year.
Gambling has been a part of human culture for millennia. Archaeologists have found wooden blocks used to play games of chance in 2300 BC China, and dice first appeared in 800 AD Rome. By the 1500s, card games like baccarat and poker were well established. In the early 1600s, the first game still played today, blackjack, made its debut.
Casinos are business enterprises and, by definition, must make a profit. To help ensure that, they have built-in advantages (known as “house edges”) that guarantee that the house will win in the long run. This means that the average player can expect to lose money if they gamble for long enough.
To entice gamblers, many casinos offer lavish inducements. Those who bet the most often—known as high rollers—are given special rooms away from the main floor where they can place huge bets that may cost them thousands of dollars. These high rollers are given free spectacular entertainment, luxury suites, reduced-fare transportation, and other luxurious perks.
When you visit a casino, be sure to dress comfortably. You might be on your feet for hours, moving from table to table and machine to machine. And, although the casinos use bright and sometimes gaudy colors to stimulate your senses, it’s a good idea to wear clothes that are comfortable and not too flashy.
