What is a Casino?

A casino is a gambling establishment that offers a variety of games of chance. It also offers table games, such as baccarat and blackjack. Casinos usually have a high turnover of money and are surrounded by security measures to deter cheating and theft. These include surveillance cameras, security guards and other electronic systems.

Gambling in one form or another has been a part of human culture for millennia. Evidence of simple betting using wooden blocks dates back to 2300 BC, while dice appeared in China around 500 AD and playing cards in Europe by the 1400s. Casinos began to appear in the United States during the 1980s, initially in Atlantic City and later on Indian reservations that were not subject to state anti-gambling laws.

Casinos earn their profits from the built in statistical advantage they have on each game, a number that is very small but adds up over time. This vig, as it is commonly called, can be as high as two percent of the total amount wagered. Casinos often use this income to pay for expensive fountains, pyramids and towers and replicas of famous landmarks.

Early casinos were bankrolled by organized crime figures, whose mob connections allowed them to circumvent legal barriers and attract tourists from across the country. However, legitimate businessmen with deep pockets eventually realized the potential of this market and bought out the mobsters. Because of federal crackdowns on organized crime, mafia involvement in casinos is now very rare.