A casino, or gambling house, is a facility for certain types of gambling. Many casinos are combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, and other tourist attractions. In the United States, a casino is usually located in a city with a long history of gambling tradition. This includes Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Reno, and New Orleans. Some states have stricter regulations for casinos, while others have looser rules. In either case, most casinos are staffed by experienced employees who are trained to spot suspicious activities.
The origins of the modern casino are unclear, but it likely began with a desire to centralize a variety of different gambling activities under one roof. Gambling probably existed long before that, however, with primitive protodice and carved six-sided dice appearing in some of the earliest archaeological sites. The modern casino as a popular venue for gamblers likely developed during the 16th century as part of a gambling craze that swept Europe at that time. Italian aristocrats often held private parties, called ridotti, at which they could bet on various games of chance with their peers.
Modern casino security measures are largely focused on keeping the money safe from theft by both patrons and staff. This starts with the casino floor, where dealers are trained to spot blatant cheating (palming or marking cards, for example) and other violations of protocol. Casinos also employ electronic monitoring systems that keep track of betting patterns and can discover any statistical deviation from expected results. Casinos may also offer complimentary goods and services to their patrons, such as hotel rooms, meals, show tickets, or even limo service. This is known as comping.