A casino, or gambling house, is a building or room where people can gamble on games of chance. Some casinos also have restaurant and non-gambling entertainment venues. Most casinos are located in the United States, but there are some around the world.
Modern casinos are large, elaborate buildings with a wide range of games, luxury hotels, spas, restaurants and other attractions. They are supervised by security forces, who monitor patrons for signs of cheating and have extensive video surveillance systems. These cameras are often mounted in the ceiling and called the “eyes in the sky.” They can be adjusted to focus on certain suspicious patrons by security workers in a separate control room.
Casinos are designed to create an atmosphere of excitement and glamour, and their interior decor usually reflects this theme. The lighting is bright and cheery, with red being a popular color because it increases blood flow and stimulates players. The floors and walls are often covered in carpet or tile, with no clocks on the wall to distract patrons from their awareness of time passing.
The word casino derives from the Italian word for a town hall or meeting place, and it refers to an establishment where members of a particular club can gather to gamble and socialize. Early casinos were exclusive to members of a specific club, but as gambling became more widespread in Europe, these clubs began to open their doors to the general public.