A casino, also known as a gambling hall or gaming den, is a building or room used for social amusements, especially gambling. The precise origin of gambling is unknown, but it has been a popular activity for millennia in many societies. Historically, most casinos have been large and luxurious, and gambling has been a major source of entertainment for the general public as well as high rollers.
In the United States, the largest casinos are in Las Vegas and Atlantic City. However, the number of American casinos is growing rapidly due to legalization and expansion in Native American tribes and new casino sites built by land developers. As of 2003, 30 percent of Americans reported visiting a casino within the previous twelve months.
Modern casinos use sophisticated security measures to protect their patrons and property. These include a physical security force and specialized surveillance departments. Often, these departments work closely together to patrol the premises and investigate calls for assistance or reports of suspicious or definite criminal activity. Casinos also use technology to control the games themselves; for instance, betting chips have microcircuitry that allows the casino to monitor the exact amounts wagered minute by minute and to quickly discover any deviation from expected results.
In addition to traditional table games, casinos feature live entertainment and numerous restaurants and bars. Some, like the Monte Carlo in Monaco, have even become iconic due to depictions in novels and films such as Ben Mezrich’s Busting Vegas.
