The Casino Industry – A Brief History

Casino is an exciting world of thrilling games and generous bonuses that make it a hotspot for avid gamers. It features an impressive selection of slot machines including the popular Golden Buffalo and Book of Cats, along with a range of progressive jackpot giants like Reels & Wheels XL and Shopping Spree, plus blackjack, video poker, baccarat and other table games.

Despite the fact that casinos offer numerous entertainment options, such as musical shows and lighted fountains, they are mostly known for gambling. It is gambling that draws the crowds and provides billions in profits for casino owners. Slot machines, roulette, craps and baccarat are the most popular games.

The casino industry has a strong and sometimes controversial history. Gambling has been around for a long time, with primitive protodice (cut knuckle bones) and carved six-sided dice found in some of the oldest archaeological sites [Source: Schwartz]. The casino as an institution that offers a wide variety of ways to gamble, however, did not emerge until the 16th century when a gambling craze hit Europe. Rich nobles would gather at ridotti, which were basically private casinos for their exclusive use.

Today’s casinos employ many different security measures to prevent cheating and stealing, either by players or casino employees. The most obvious measure is the presence of security cameras throughout the casino floor. In addition, modern casinos use a large amount of technology to monitor the games themselves: chips have built-in microcircuitry to allow casino managers to track the exact amounts wagered minute by minute; and roulette wheels are regularly monitored for statistical deviations.