A casino is a place where people can gamble on games of chance, and it is usually combined with other tourist attractions. Some casinos, especially those in Las Vegas, add a wide variety of luxuries to attract visitors, such as restaurants, free drinks, stage shows and dramatic scenery. But gambling is the central activity at any casino.
The Monte Carlo Casino, on the Italian-Swiss border, is one of the world’s most famous casinos. It was built in 1917, but is best known for the new building that opened in 2007. This multifaceted complex is designed by Mario Botta, whose architecture includes major churches and museums worldwide.
In the twenty-first century, casinos have become choosier about who they admit to play their games. They focus their investments on the “high rollers,” who spend much more than the average person. In return, they receive generous comps (free gifts) like discounted or even free travel and hotel rooms, meals, spectacular entertainment, limousine service and other treats.
Casinos also spend a lot of time and money on security. They have a number of ways to spot cheating, including video cameras that monitor the games and the players. But most importantly, they rely on patterns to detect fraud. The way that dealers shuffle and deal cards, the locations of the betting spots on a table, and the expected reactions and movements of players all follow certain routines. Any deviation from those patterns is quickly noticed by a security person.
