A casino is a place where people can gamble. There are many kinds of casinos, from small gambling halls to large resorts. Some cities are known for their casinos, such as Las Vegas, while others are not. The Monte Carlo Casino in Monaco, one of the world’s smallest countries, is famous for its luxury and elegance.
A spokesman for a leading New York developer says the Bronx’s Bally’s casino bid has “a real chance of winning.” Robert Jaen, executive director of the Throggs Neck Business Improvement District, said that the company, which would operate the proposed facility, already brought a city casino to Schenectady, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
The word casino comes from the Latin casa, meaning “house.” The first casinos were open houses in Europe that offered a variety of gambling activities, from horse racing to poker and other card games. Modern casinos have a dedicated security department that patrols the premises and provides assistance to players. The security department is often divided into a physical force and a specialized surveillance department that operates the casino’s closed-circuit television system, or eye in the sky. Modern casinos also offer a wide range of electronic gambling products. Most games have mathematically determined odds that give the house a permanent advantage over players. In these games, the house takes a percentage of each player’s wagers, a practice known as rake or vig. The house also earns money by giving complimentary items to players, called comps.