Whether you’re looking for excitement, an escape from reality or simply the chance to try your luck at winning some money, a casino is the place for you. From lavish lights and glittering slots to clapping players around tables, the smell of cigarettes and champagne glasses and a sense of energy that’s hard to describe, there is something intoxicating about casinos that makes it hard for people to walk away without feeling a rush.

Despite being associated with glitz and glamour, gambling isn’t always easy and casinos often deal with large amounts of money, which can attract both patrons and staff who are tempted to cheat or steal, either in collusion or on their own. To combat these issues, most casinos have various security measures in place. These range from cameras in the ceiling that offer a high-tech eye-in-the-sky to monitor every table, window and doorway to sophisticated systems that can track and monitor specific patrons’ behavior.

Although gambling probably predates recorded history (primitive protodice and carved six-sided dice have been found in archaeological sites), the modern concept of a casino as a place where patrons can find a variety of ways to gamble under one roof didn’t develop until the 16th century when a gambling craze swept Europe, and Italian aristocrats built “ridotti” where they could play for pleasure [Source: Schwartz]. Regardless of their luxury accoutrements, all casinos accept bets within an established limit, which ensures that no single patron can win more than a casino can afford to pay out.