A casino or a gambling establishment is an establishment where people can gamble by playing games of chance and, in some cases, skill. Casino games are generally played with cash or paper tickets referred to as chips, although some casinos allow players to use electronic devices to place bets. The games may be operated by a live dealer or be computerized, with the results of each being influenced by random number generators. In games of pure chance, the house always has an advantage over the player, which is expressed mathematically as the expected value (EV) of a bet, or, more precisely, as the “house edge”. Casinos earn money from these games by charging fees to customers called rakes or commissions.
Casinos can also offer other forms of gambling, such as poker and sports betting. Gambling has been a part of human culture for millennia, with evidence of dice-based gaming dating back to 2300 BC in China. The modern casino is a relatively recent invention, with the first one opening in Atlantic City in 1978 and many American states amending their laws in the 1980s to permit them. In addition to traditional casino games, many modern casinos offer a wide selection of electronic machines and video poker.
The most famous casinos in the world are known for their luxury, elegance, and sophistication. The Bellagio in Las Vegas is famous for its dancing fountains and high-end dining options, and was the setting for the movie Ocean’s 11. In Monte Carlo, the Casino de la Belle Société, often simply known as the Monte Carlo, is an iconic landmark that has featured in numerous films and books, including Ben Mezrich’s “Busting Vegas”. The Hotel Lisboa in Macau is a glistening beacon, with its birdcage design creating the impression that it is hovering above the city.