A casino is a place that offers the opportunity to gamble on games of chance. It can be found in massive resorts built especially for this purpose as well as in small card rooms and even on boats and barges on waterways across the country. Casinos bring in billions each year for the companies, investors, and Native American tribes that own and operate them. And they also contribute a significant amount to state and local taxes.
Something about gambling (probably the fact that it involves large amounts of money) seems to encourage people to cheat or steal. That’s why casinos spend a great deal of time and effort on security. Some casinos have catwalks in the ceiling that allow surveillance personnel to look directly down, through one-way glass, on activities at tables and slot machines. Others use elaborate video cameras that can be adjusted to focus on suspicious patrons by security workers in a separate room filled with banks of monitors.
The Hippodrome in London, England, is considered to be the world’s oldest casino. It opened in 1900 and is now a popular entertainment venue. Although most people think of Las Vegas when they hear the word “casino,” there are casinos all over the world, including Monaco, Paris, and Lisbon. Many of these casinos are known for their glamorous settings, luxurious accommodations, and spectacular shows. Others are famous for their history or location.