What Is a Casino?
A casino is a facility for certain types of gambling. Some casinos are stand-alone facilities, while others are combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops or cruise ships. In some cases, casinos are known for hosting live entertainment such as concerts and sports events.
A common feature of casinos is a table game called roulette, which features a spinning wheel and a small ball that marks the winning number. Other popular table games include blackjack and poker. Casinos also often have a variety of electronic slot machines. In the United States, the term “casino” usually refers to a large hotel-type establishment that offers a wide range of gambling activities.
Although most casino patrons are not likely to cheat or steal, the temptation exists, and casinos have security measures in place to deter criminal activity. Many casinos have a dedicated physical security force and specialized surveillance department. These departments work closely with each other and are able to respond quickly to calls for assistance or suspicious or definite criminal activity.
In addition to the traditional casino gambling offerings, many Asian casinos offer a variety of traditional Far Eastern games such as sic bo (which spread to several European and American casinos during the 1990s), fan-tan, and pai gow. In some instances, other local games of interest may be offered. These include two-up in Australia, baccarat in France, trente et quarante in Portugal, boule in Spain, and kalooki in Britain.
While some casinos cater to the highest rollers in the world, other focus on providing an array of options for all players. For example, the glitzy Las Vegas casino at MGM Grand is known for its high-end poker rooms and tables and has even been featured in Ocean’s 11. Alternatively, the elegant spa town of Baden-Baden in Germany’s Black Forest region has an upscale casino that first became a playground for Europe’s royalty and aristocracy 150 years ago. Today, it attracts an upscale crowd with its elegant poker rooms, roulette and blackjack tables and over 130 slot machines.