A casino is a building or room where people can play gambling games. The games played in a casino are based on chance. The casino profits by charging bettors for the opportunity to participate in the games. The games include poker, blackjack, baccarat, roulette, craps, and more. Some casinos also offer dining and entertainment options. The casino industry is regulated by government authorities.
Gambling in all its forms has been part of human civilization for millennia. Evidence of gambling has been found in China as early as 2300 BC and in Rome around 500 AD. The modern casino first appeared in the United States in 1978 in Atlantic City and soon spread throughout the country and into other parts of the world. In the 1980s casinos began appearing on American Indian reservations, which are exempt from state anti-gambling laws.
There are three general categories of casino games: gaming machines, table games, and random number games. Gaming machines are based on mechanical or electrical means and allow multiple players to wager money at the same time. Table games, such as roulette or blackjack, are conducted by casino employees known as croupiers and involve one or more players competing against the house. Random number games, such as keno or bingo, are based on selecting numbers using a random number generator.
For a casino experience that is off the Strip, try Ellis Island Casino, a family-owned joint that opened in 1968. Its intimate, old-school atmosphere and $5 blackjack tables are a fun change from the flashy Las Vegas scene.
