From Las Vegas to Monaco, from China to Singapore, the world’s most exclusive casinos pair high stakes with luxury. Featuring opulent suites, spas and fine dining, these destinations serve up the thrill of roulette wheels, blackjack tables and more.
Despite the high stakes, gambling is not considered an addiction and the most serious problem gamblers can be helped through treatment programs. In addition, casinos are a major source of revenue for many countries, and the profits from these establishments help support local infrastructure and jobs.
In the United States, the term casino usually refers to a gaming establishment licensed and regulated by state law. However, some jurisdictions have legalized only certain types of casino gambling, such as those on Indian reservations. Throughout Europe, most countries changed their laws in the 1980s to permit casinos. The first American casinos were built on Native American reservations, which are exempt from most state antigambling laws.
Gambling in some form has been part of human society for millennia. Evidence of simple dice games exists from 2300 BC, and card games began to appear around 500 AD. Modern casino games such as baccarat and blackjack, whose rules have remained relatively unchanged since their introduction, have become staples of the modern industry.
Given the large amounts of money handled within a casino, both patrons and staff may be tempted to cheat or steal, either in collusion or independently. To reduce the risks, most casinos employ a combination of physical security forces and specialized surveillance departments to patrol and monitor activities. In addition, many machines are equipped with microcircuitry that enables them to be monitored electronically; and the results of roulette wheels are regularly compared to statistical deviations from expected results.
