CASINO
A casino is a gambling establishment that houses various card and chance games for patrons who are willing to wager money. Often casinos also feature other entertainment elements such as stage shows, dining, drinking and shopping. The vast majority of revenue, however, is derived from the gambling activities themselves.
Many modern casinos have sophisticated security measures in place. Among the most obvious is the use of cameras throughout the facility. In addition, the routines of casino games themselves are closely observed and often tracked in order to spot any anomalies. For example, the way in which chips are shuffled and dealt follows certain patterns, as do the expected reactions of players at poker tables.
Some modern casinos also incorporate exotic, non-card games into their gaming offerings. For instance, Asian casinos offer traditional Far Eastern games such as sic bo (which spread to several European and American casinos during the 1990s) fan-tan and pai-gow. Similarly, some casinos feature more obscure games such as two-up in Australia, banca francesa in Portugal, boule in France and kalooki in Britain.
Although a casino can be an excellent source of income, it also poses a significant risk to its patrons and employees. Both may be tempted to cheat or steal, either in collusion with other patrons or independently. Casinos are therefore generally designed to be noisy, bright, and exciting in order to stimulate gamblers and distract them from any potential dangers. In addition, the large amounts of currency that are handled within a casino make it a tempting target for thieves.