A casino, or a gambling house, is an establishment where certain types of gambling take place. While entertainment such as musical shows, lighted fountains, lavish hotels and elaborate themes help draw in patrons, the billions of dollars in profits raked in by casinos each year come from games of chance such as slots, blackjack, roulette, craps, keno and baccarat. Some casinos also have video poker machines, but this type of gaming is regulated separately from the other gambling activities in many jurisdictions.
While the exact origin of gambling is not known, it is believed to predate recorded history; primitive protodice and carved knuckle bones have been found at archaeological sites. The modern casino grew out of the 16th century when a gambling craze swept Europe. Italian aristocrats often held private parties called ridotti in which they played a variety of games, including baccarat (known as chemin de fer in France), and card games such as blackjack and trente et quarante.
Most American casinos are licensed to operate in one or more states and are usually owned by major real estate developers and hotel chains. Because of the enormous amount of money that passes through casinos, both patrons and staff may be tempted to cheat or steal, either in collusion or independently. To prevent this, most casinos have a physical security force and a specialized surveillance department that operates the casino’s closed circuit television system—also known as the eye in the sky.