A casino, or gambling house, is a place for people to gamble. While casinos have many luxuries, such as restaurants and stage shows, the main purpose is to allow people to place bets and try their luck at winning money or prizes.
Gambling almost certainly predates recorded history, with primitive protodice and carved six-sided dice found at ancient archaeological sites [Source: Schwartz]. However, the modern casino as a public place to find multiple ways of gambling under one roof did not develop until the 16th century, when a gambling craze swept Europe. Italian aristocrats often hosted private parties at houses called ridotti, where gambling was the main event [Source: Schwartz].
Casinos today are much more elaborate than their early counterparts, with restaurants, free drinks and stage shows to attract customers. According to the American Gaming Association, 51 million people, or about a quarter of all Americans over 21, visited a casino in 2002.
Most games of chance, such as roulette and blackjack, have a mathematically determined house edge that is uniformly negative for players (the term for this is the expectation value). Games that require some degree of skill, such as poker, are different, with the house taking a rake or commission on each hand.
In addition to offering a variety of games, casinos have become popular tourist attractions, and some are combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, cruise ships and other entertainment venues. Some are also known for their high-roller programs, which offer perks such as free meals and hotel rooms.
