A Casino is a gambling establishment where people wager cash or other items of value on various possible random outcomes or combinations of outcomes. The games offered in casinos range from standard table and card games to electronic machines like slot machines, video poker, keno, and roulette. Casinos also offer a wide variety of perks to encourage gamblers and reward those who spend more money. These perks include free rooms, meals, and show tickets. Casinos are also found at racetracks, on boats and barges, and in some states at truck stops and other small businesses.
Although gambling has existed almost since the dawn of recorded history, the modern casino as a place where people could find a variety of ways to gamble under one roof did not develop until the 16th century. At that time a gambling craze was sweeping Europe and Italian nobles would meet in private clubs called ridotti to enjoy a game of chance with friends [Source: Schwartz].
Modern casino games are designed to make the house, or house edge, as close as possible to zero, or better yet, to earn a profit of up to one percent or less. The advantage is mathematically determined by the odds on each game, and the mathematics of these odds are the domain of gaming mathematicians, sometimes called gaming analysts. As a result of this research, casinos know the odds on every game they offer and use them to help their customers maximize their winnings.