Casino is a popular gambling establishment offering a variety of games of chance. Successful casinos bring in billions of dollars each year for the corporations, investors and Native American tribes that own them. They also generate a great deal of revenue for the cities, states and countries that host them. Casinos offer many luxuries to attract patrons, such as free drinks, stage shows and dramatic scenery.
Gambling has been a favorite pastime since ancient times, with primitive “astragali” (cut knuckle bones) and carved six-sided dice discovered in archaeological sites. But the concept of a place where people could find a variety of gambling activities under one roof didn’t develop until the 16th century, when a wave of European betting mania swept across Italy. Wealthy aristocrats created private clubs called ridotti, where they could gather to gamble and socialize; these were the ancestors of modern casinos.
To stimulate gamblers’ senses, casinos use flashing lights and loud noises to create a lively atmosphere. The color red is often used as a design element because it’s believed to make people lose track of time and concentrate more on the game at hand. Slot machines are designed to appeal to the visual, tactile and audio senses; they have bright lights that flash in rhythm with music or their own sounds of bells and coins dropping.
Most casinos reward their high rollers, or “comps,” with free hotel rooms, meals, shows or even limo service and airline tickets. To get comped, gamblers typically swipe a credit card before each game, which is then scanned by casino computers to keep records of their gambling habits and tally up points that can be exchanged for goods and services.