A casino is a place where people can go to play games of chance. Many casinos add extra features to attract customers like restaurants, free drinks and stage shows but the bulk of a casino’s profits come from gambling. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps and keno are among the games that make up most of the billions of dollars casinos rake in each year.

Gambling probably predates recorded history, with primitive protodice and carved six-sided dice found in archaeological sites. But the modern casino as a centralized place for a variety of games under one roof did not emerge until a gambling craze swept Europe in the 16th century, with Italian aristocrats gathering at private clubs called ridotti to gamble and socialize [Source: Schwartz].

Most casino owners build their casinos to be the biggest in the world in order to attract big bettors and generate revenue from tourist dollars. Often a hotel and casino are combined into a single complex to provide more amenities for visitors.

Since large amounts of money are handled in a casino, both patrons and employees may be tempted to cheat or steal. This is why the majority of casinos are heavily secured and monitored by security cameras. Elaborate surveillance systems offer an eye-in-the-sky view of the entire casino, and individual cameras can be adjusted to focus on suspicious patrons. In addition, tables and chairs are often removed from the casino floor to prevent players from hiding chips or cards under their clothes.