What is a Casino?
A casino, also called a gambling house or a kasino, is a place where people can play games of chance. Most of these establishments have a certain amount of skill involved in them but the house always has an advantage over the players, which is known as the “house edge.” The word casino, originally from Italian, can refer to any type of building or room that provides gaming services, but the best casinos are often combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, cruise ships and other tourist attractions. The most famous casinos are found in cities such as Las Vegas, Monaco, and Singapore, but they can be found all over the world.
Gambling has been around for millennia, with records of dice being found in China in 2300 B.C. and card games in Rome in the 1400s. But it was the invention of roulette in 1655 by mathematician and all-around genius Blaise Pascal that truly launched modern casinos.
While some gamblers spend millions of dollars, others are content with playing a few hands of blackjack or spinning the reels of a slot machine. Regardless of their budget, all casino patrons can expect to enjoy a bit of luxury, with the most exclusive casinos featuring opulent suites and spas alongside a variety of table games, from blackjack to roulette and poker. The elegant spa town of Baden-Baden was a playground for Europe’s royalty and aristocracy 150 years ago, but these days it attracts a more diverse group of visitors, many of them lured by the lavish outfitted casino.
