A casino is an establishment for certain types of gambling. These casinos are often built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and other tourist attractions. In some countries, casinos are licensed and regulated by government authorities to ensure fair play. Some casinos are also known for hosting live entertainment, such as concerts and sports events.
Until the late 1940s, legal casino gambling was limited to Atlantic City in New Jersey and to riverboats on American Indian reservations. During the 1980s, however, casinos began to appear in Las Vegas and other cities around the world. These casinos competed with each other in offering amenities and services to attract gamblers, including luxury hotels and spas, high-end restaurants and shopping.
A number of technological advances have occurred in recent years to enhance casino security and player protection. For example, some tables have “chip tracking” devices that allow the casino to monitor exactly how much is wagered on each game minute by minute; and roulette wheels are electronically monitored to discover any anomalies. Moreover, video cameras are used to ensure players don’t cheat.
In addition to these technology-based advancements, casinos have incorporated many other games of chance into their offerings. Some of these include sic bo, which has become a popular table game in several European and American casinos; fan-tan, which originated in China and is found in some Asian casinos; and baccarat, which first appeared in Europe in the 1600s.