A casino is an establishment for certain types of gambling. It may also be known as a gaming house or a gambling den. Casinos are usually located near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops and other tourist attractions. They are also often licensed to offer alcohol and to provide professional security staff. The earliest casinos probably were not designed to attract tourists, but rather to serve local populations with recreational gambling. In modern times, however, many casinos are designed specifically to appeal to tourists.
The most popular games in casinos are slot machines and (since the 1980s) video poker machines, which typically generate a higher percentage of a casino’s income than any other game. These machines require no skill or knowledge; a player simply inserts money, pulls a handle or pushes a button and waits for a result. Varying bands of colored shapes roll on reels (either actual physical or electronic), and if the right pattern appears, the player receives a predetermined amount of money.
Although gambling almost certainly predates recorded history, the casino as a centralized place to find a variety of ways to gamble did not develop until the 16th century, when a gambling craze swept Europe and Italian aristocrats gathered in private parties called ridotti to wager on everything from cut knuckle bones to carved six-sided dice [Source: Schwartz]. Although many casinos employ sophisticated video surveillance systems and electronic monitoring equipment, it is not always possible to detect cheating. Instead, security personnel rely on patterns of behavior and routine, such as the way dealers shuffle cards or deal tables. For this reason, a casino’s decor is generally designed to promote a happy and upbeat atmosphere; red is a popular color because it stimulates the eye and helps people forget time.