What Is a Casino?

A casino is an establishment for certain types of gambling. Casinos are sometimes combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and other tourist attractions. They also may host live entertainment events such as concerts and sports. The word casino is derived from the Latin cazino, which means “little house.” The first modern casinos were built in the mid-19th century in Europe, and they developed into a major source of income for the local populations. They gained popularity in the United States during the 1970s, and by the 1980s, many American states had legalized them. The largest concentration of casinos is in Nevada and Atlantic City, but they also are located in several other states, including Iowa. Moreover, casinos are increasingly appearing on American Indian reservations, where they can avoid state antigambling laws.

Due to the large amounts of money handled within casinos, patrons and staff can be tempted to cheat or steal, either in collusion or independently. For this reason, casinos invest a considerable amount of time and money in security measures. For example, slot machines have embedded microcircuitry to record the exact amount of money wagered minute-by-minute, and roulette wheels are electronically monitored regularly to discover statistical deviations from expected results.

In the past, organized crime figures controlled many casinos, but federal crackdowns and the threat of losing a gaming license at even the slightest hint of mob interference drove them out. Real estate investors and hotel chains, with their deep pockets, stepped in to take over the business. Although casinos generate substantial revenue, studies suggest that the cost of treating problem gamblers and lost productivity from gambling addiction outweigh any economic benefits.