A casino, or gambling house, is a building where patrons can gamble by playing games of chance. Generally, the games are luck-based but some involve skill as well (like poker). Several famous casinos are found in Europe, including the Monte Carlo casino which is considered the most elegant and luxurious of them all. Many casinos are combined with hotels, restaurants, shopping centers and other tourist attractions. Casinos in the United States are usually located in cities or towns with a large population of tourists, such as Las Vegas.
In addition to providing gambling opportunities, some casinos offer free drinks and stage shows. These entertainment features are designed to attract customers and enhance their gaming experience. Many casinos also give out complimentary goods and services to their most loyal patrons, a practice called comping. Some of these include free hotel rooms, meals and tickets to shows. Other comps may include airline tickets and limo service. In the US, slot machines are the economic mainstay of casinos, generating income from high volume, rapid play at sums ranging from five cents to a dollar.
Gambling in some form has existed since prehistoric times, with primitive protodice and carved six-sided dice among the earliest evidence. But the modern casino as a place for patrons to find a wide variety of ways to win at chance was developed in the 16th century during a betting craze in Italy. Aristocratic gamblers would meet in secret venues known as ridotti to avoid public scrutiny.
