A casino is a building or room where people play games of chance for money. Games of chance can involve an element of skill, but the majority are purely random events. Many casinos also offer complimentary items to their gamblers, called comps. Some of these may include free hotel rooms, meals, tickets to shows, or even airline flights for high rollers. Comps are often based on the amount of time a gambler spends at the casino and the type of game played.
Because of the large amounts of cash handled within a casino, it is sometimes tempting for both patrons and employees to cheat or steal, either in collusion or independently. This is the primary reason why casinos invest a great deal of time and money on security. Most casinos have security cameras throughout the premises to monitor activity and prevent cheating or theft. Casino security also consists of rules and policies that are enforced by casino personnel.
Gambling has been part of human civilization for millennia. The earliest evidence comes from China in 2300 BC, with dice appearing around 500 BC and the first card game, baccarat, in the 1400s. It took another century before the modern game of blackjack emerged. Casinos are found worldwide, but they tend to concentrate in cities with large populations of tourists and where land-based gambling is legal. In addition to their direct income, they also generate substantial tax revenues for the local communities in which they operate.
