A casino, or gambling hall, is a facility that provides one or more forms of gambling. It may offer a variety of games, including table games like poker and blackjack, dice games such as craps, and wheel games such as roulette. Patrons place bets for money and, if successful, are paid according to the odds of the game. Casinos make their profit by taking a percentage of each bet or charging an hourly fee.
Gambling in all its various forms has been part of human life for millennia, with archaeological evidence dating back to 2300 BC in China. The earliest casinos were probably small, private establishments offering card and dice games. Today’s large casinos are often integrated into resort hotels and feature many other amenities besides gambling, such as restaurants, night clubs, and shopping. Casinos also have security measures in place to protect both players and property from cheating or theft by either other patrons or staff.
The most famous casino in the world is probably the Bellagio in Las Vegas, but other contenders include the Casino de Monte-Carlo and the Casino Lisboa in Lisbon. Some are renowned for their luxury, while others are known for their history or unique locations. For example, the oldest casino in the world is the Casino di Venezia, which opened its doors in 1809 and sits on Venice’s Grand Canal. A visit to this romantic site is an experience in itself. In the United States, the typical casino gambler was a forty-six-year-old woman from a household with above-average income in 2005, according to surveys by Roper Reports GfK NOP and TNS.