What is a Casino?
A casino is a place where people can gamble. It has games of chance and games of skill, including craps, roulette, baccarat, blackjack and video poker. It also has a variety of entertainment options like stage shows and dining. Casinos often give free drinks, meals and other rewards to gamblers. These are called comps.
Gambling probably predates recorded history, with primitive protodice and carved six-sided dice found in archaeological digs, but the modern casino as an institution that collects various gambling activities under one roof developed during the 16th century, when a gambling craze swept Europe. It was in this time that the first casinos appeared in Monte Carlo and other European cities, although aristocrats had private clubs for gambling parties known as ridotti that were not bothered by legal authorities [Source: Schwartz].
Most casino games have mathematically determined odds that ensure the house has a constant advantage over the players. This advantage is referred to as the house edge. In games such as poker where patrons play against each other, the casino makes a profit by taking a percentage of each pot or charging an hourly fee for playing time.
Casinos are a huge industry and generate significant revenue for their local communities. They are also a popular tourist destination. However, they can cause problems in some communities, e.g., by reducing property values and by encouraging people to gamble excessively. To combat these negative effects, many states have programs to help problem gamblers.