The modern casino may seem like an indoor amusement park, with musical shows, lighted fountains, shopping centers and lavish hotels to draw in the crowds. But games of chance, such as slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps and baccarat, still make up the bulk of the billions in profits that casinos bring in every year. Read on to learn more about the history of these famous gambling establishments, what makes them tick and how they stay safe.
Casinos have a long and varied history, with their origins spanning across the globe. In fact, the first casino opened in Italy in 1638, called the Ridotto and was the world’s first government-sanctioned gambling house. Although it only offered primitive card games to the rich, it paved the way for modern casinos and is often credited with originating the word itself. The concept soon spread throughout Europe and was adopted by other countries as they realized the potential profits of running their own gambling houses [Source: Poley, Jared. Luck, Leisure and the Casino: A Cultural History of Gambling. Cambridge University Press, 2023].
In the early days of Las Vegas, casinos were funded by mafia gangsters with plenty of cash from their drug dealing and extortion operations. While legitimate businessmen were hesitant to invest in casinos, mafia members saw the potential profits and took up sole or partial ownership of many of them. This allowed the mafia to influence how the casino was run and even alter the results of certain games.
Today, casino security is a top priority and uses a variety of methods to keep the gambling floor safe. Among these are cameras, staff and rules of behavior for gamblers. Casinos also hire gaming mathematicians to calculate the house edge and variance for their machines, ensuring that they are not being rigged. In addition, many casinos have a dedicated team of employees to monitor the gamblers’ behavior and watch out for any suspicious activity, such as palming, marking, or dice and card switching.
In the past, casino security was a much more personal affair. For example, a high roller might be given free hotel rooms and meals, limo service, show tickets and airline tickets in exchange for large bets. While this type of comp is rare nowadays, some casinos do offer it to their best players. This is one of the reasons it is important to ask about the casino’s security measures before you start playing. They should be happy to answer any questions that you might have. The best casino will have a dedicated customer service department ready to assist you. This will ensure that you have the best casino experience possible. They will also be able to process your withdrawals quickly and efficiently. This will give you the peace of mind to play more confidently knowing that your money is in good hands. With this in mind, you should always look for the best online casino with fast payouts and a high RTP.