In the glamorous world of casinos, you’ll find everything from opulent chandeliers and overflowing bars to gambling elevated to an art form. From Las Vegas to Macau, these 10 temples of temptation are where the gamblers gather to throw their chips and see what fate holds in store.
The precise origin of gambling is unclear, with primitive protodice and carved six-sided dice found in the world’s oldest archaeological sites. But the casino as a place to find a variety of ways to gamble under one roof did not appear until the 16th century, when a European gambling craze encouraged Italian nobles to hold private parties in houses called ridotti [Source: Schwartz].
Today there are more than 1,000 casinos worldwide and they continue to grow in size, beauty, and number of games. Many offer hotel rooms, non-gambling entertainment, restaurants, bars, and pools, and a host of other perks to keep customers happy. Some of the largest include the City of Dreams in Macau, Foxwoods in Connecticut, and the Bellagio in Las Vegas.
It’s hard to put a number on the number of people who visit casinos each year, but we do know that it is more than 51 million in the United States alone. And the number is growing as more states legalize casinos. In addition, the casino industry is expanding to include online gambling.
The most popular casino games are blackjack, poker, and slot machines. The rules of these games are straightforward: the player places their bet, and then a dealer deals them cards. The player then makes decisions based on the cards they have and the odds of winning. Casinos also have rules for their staff, including how they should interact with players and how to handle customer complaints.
Despite the fact that casinos are in business to make money, they often spend a lot of it on security. This is because they have a strong tendency to encourage cheating and stealing. Security people can spot these violations easily because of the way games are played and the routines that players follow. For example, the way dealers shuffle and deal cards, where players place their bets, and what they do after each round all have predictable patterns.
Something about gambling (maybe it’s the promise of a large jackpot) seems to inspire people to try to bend or break the rules in order to win. And that’s why casino security is so important. The most important thing that a casino can do to keep its patrons safe is to hire the best possible security staff. And that’s why it pays to do your research before you gamble at a particular casino. That way, you can be sure you’re playing at a trustworthy and safe establishment. Good luck!