A casino (or casin
The word casino is derived from the Latin cazino, meaning “to toss or turn.” The first modern casinos appeared in the second half of the nineteenth century and were inspired by European models. The MGMGrand Casino in Las Vegas is one of the biggest in the world, with its 519,000-square-foot casino floor. In China, the Venetian Macau is the largest single-structure hotel and casino in the world.
Gambling is a common part of many cultures worldwide, and casinos are a key element in many tourism destinations. The most luxurious casinos offer opulent suites, spas, and fine dining alongside the roulette wheel and blackjack table.
Casinos have become increasingly sophisticated in their use of technology to monitor and control gaming. For example, in baccarat, electronic systems allow the casino to oversee and record betting chips minute-by-minute; in roulette, computers monitor the rotation of the ball in the wheel to detect any deviation from its expected average. In addition, most modern casinos have a physical security force and a specialized surveillance department.
Patrons and staff of a casino may be tempted to cheat or steal, either in collusion or independently. The large amounts of money handled by a casino make it an attractive target for criminals. Modern casinos have several security measures to prevent this, including video cameras and a trained staff.