Casino (pronounced ka-sino) is a modern term that refers to a gambling establishment. Despite the fact that gambling almost certainly predates recorded history with primitive protodice and carved six-sided dice, the modern casino as an institution that provides a variety of different ways to gamble under one roof did not develop until the 16th century. At that time a gambling craze swept Europe, and Italian aristocrats would hold private parties in places called ridotti, where they could indulge their habit without fear of legal reprisal.
As the casino business expanded, legitimate businessmen were reluctant to invest funds in a business that carried a taint of organized crime. Mafia figures had plenty of money from drug dealing, extortion and other illegal rackets, however, and were eager to get involved in the new industry. They provided the money for casinos in Reno and Las Vegas, took sole or partial ownership of some of them, and manipulated games with the threat of violence to casino employees. Federal crackdowns on Mafia activities and the potential loss of a gaming license at even the slightest hint of mob involvement eventually forced many casinos to distance themselves from their original owners.
The modern casino offers a variety of table and slot games, and is usually attached to prime dining and entertainment facilities. The newest facilities are often dazzling in appearance and offer sophisticated electronic security features. Many casinos also employ catwalks in the ceiling that allow surveillance personnel to look down on table and slot games from above. Routines and patterns are observed, and the casino security staff is able to catch players who are trying to cheat.