Taking their name from the Italian word for “public house,” casinos began as a social gathering place for entertainment and relaxation. Today, they continue to offer a combination of high stakes and high luxury, combining the best in gambling with fine dining and opulent suites. From Las Vegas to Venice, Monaco to Singapore, these world-class casinos pair sophisticated gaming with exotic locales and unforgettable experiences.
The games casino patrons play have a mathematical expectancy, and it is extremely rare for a gambler to lose more money than the casino can afford to pay him. Thus, casinos make their profits from the high rollers, offering them lavish inducements, including free spectacular entertainment, travel, elegant living quarters and even private planes. Casinos also make a significant amount of their profits from less-affluent players, who are offered discounted transportation and hotel rooms, as well as comped food and drinks while they gamble.
In the twentieth century, casinos became increasingly choosy about who they let inside. To weed out problem gamblers, they started to use technology to keep track of their bets and other information, such as the eagle eye view provided by security cameras, or ‘chip tracking,’ in which betting chips with built-in microcircuitry interact with electronic systems that record the amounts wagered minute by minute so that casinos can quickly discover any anomalies.
Moreover, casino management is now concentrating on customer service and marketing. They offer perks, such as complimentary food and drinks, and attract customers by advertising the number of slot machines and table games they have. They also try to promote a relaxing and upscale atmosphere by using bright and sometimes gaudy floor and wall coverings that are thought to stimulate and cheer people up.