A casino is a facility where people can gamble for money on various games of chance or with a small amount of skill. These games include poker, blackjack, slots, craps, roulette and video poker. Most casinos offer free spectacular entertainment and other perks to high-wagering patrons. These freebies, which are called comps, can be anything from drinks and food to hotel rooms and show tickets.
Gambling has been a part of human culture for millennia, with evidence of dice games dating back to 2300 BC. Cards appeared in Europe in the 1400s, and table games like baccarat and blackjack soon followed. The modern casino evolved from the traditional gaming halls of Europe, which were often associated with public houses or brothels. The first American casinos were established in Atlantic City, New Jersey and on Native American reservations, where state laws did not prohibit gambling. During the 1980s, many American cities legalized casino gambling, including Las Vegas, and more Native American casinos opened.
Because large amounts of money are handled within casinos, security is a key issue. Most casinos employ security cameras and other technological measures to prevent cheating and theft. In addition, dealers are trained to spot blatant cheating techniques such as palming, marking or switching cards or dice. In table games, pit bosses and managers keep an eye on players, observing their betting patterns for signs of collusion or cheating.