The Casino – An Indoor Amusement Park For Adults

Casino is an indoor amusement park for adults, where the vast majority of entertainment and profits for owners comes from gambling. While a wide variety of musical shows, shopping centers, lighted fountains and elaborate themes draw in the crowds, the billions of dollars casinos rake in every year come from games like slots, blackjack, roulette, craps, keno and baccarat.

The origin of the modern casino can be traced to the Italians. A gambling craze swept the country in the 16th century, and rich aristocrats gathered in private clubs called ridotti to gamble on various games of chance. Although technically illegal, the aristocrats weren’t bothered by legal authorities and the casinos grew in popularity.

Eventually, businessmen in other countries caught on to the money making potential of these clubs and began opening their own. The first legal casinos opened in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and on American Indian reservations, which are not subject to state antigambling laws. Other states soon changed their laws to allow casinos, and the number of casinos rapidly grew worldwide.

Gambling likely predates recorded history, with primitive protodice known as astragali and carved six-sided dice found in ancient archaeological sites. However, the casino as a place to find many ways to gamble under one roof didn’t develop until the late 16th century. This development coincided with a widespread desire to escape the religious and political strictures of the time.

Today’s casino is a high-tech facility that includes a computerized system to track all patron activity, along with security cameras. These cameras are wired into a room filled with banks of security monitors, which can be adjusted to focus on specific suspicious behavior.

While some casinos are huge, others are smaller and more intimate. The Netherlands’ Holland Casino in Amsterdam, for example, is just over 108,000 square feet and offers a diverse range of games. In addition to its traditional table games, Holland Casino also has a poker lounge and multiple bars and restaurants.

Another casino that is big both in size and in amenities is the Hotel Lisboa in Macao, China. This towering structure is emblazoned with more than a million LED lights and is shaped to resemble a giant birdcage. It caters to wealthy VIPs from around the world.

While the Casino at Monte Carlo is famous for its design and location, it’s not the largest casino in Europe. That honor goes to the elegant spa town of Baden-Baden in Germany, which is home to the world’s largest casino at 108,000 square feet. In addition to its sprawling gaming floor, the casino has a restaurant, a contemporary art gallery and three theaters that host performances. Guests can also enjoy the casino’s many luxurious spa facilities and an outdoor pool. Guests can even stay in the casino’s opulent suites for free, depending on how much they spend playing the games. This is known as comping. For those who aren’t interested in gambling, the hotel has a convention center and several other attractions.