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COVID-19 is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic.

The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever,[7] fatigue, cough, breathing difficulties, loss of smell, and loss of taste.[8][9][10] Symptoms may begin one to fourteen days after exposure to the virus. At least a third of people who are infected do not develop noticeable symptoms.[11][12] Of those who develop symptoms noticeable enough to be classified as patients, most (81%) develop mild to moderate symptoms (up to mild pneumonia), while 14% develop severe symptoms (dyspnea, hypoxia, or more than 50% lung involvement on imaging), and 5% develop critical symptoms (respiratory failure, shock, or multiorgan dysfunction).[13] Older people have a higher risk of developing severe symptoms. Some complications result in death. Some people continue to experience a range of effects (long COVID) for months or years after infection, and damage to organs has been observed.[14] Multi-year studies on the long-term effects are ongoing.[15]

COVID‑19 transmission occurs when infectious particles are breathed in or come into contact with the eyes, nose, or mouth. The risk is highest when people are in close proximity, but small airborne particles containing the virus can remain suspended in the air and travel over longer distances, particularly indoors. Transmission can also occur when people touch their eyes, nose, or mouth after touching surfaces or objects that have been contaminated by the virus. People remain contagious for up to 20 days and can spread the virus even if they do not develop symptoms.[16]

Testing methods for COVID-19 to detect the virus’s nucleic acid include real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‑PCR),[17][18] transcription-mediated amplification,[17][18][19] and reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT‑LAMP)[17][18] from a nasopharyngeal swab.[20]

Several COVID-19 vaccines have been approved and distributed in various countries, many of which have initiated mass vaccination campaigns. Other preventive measures include physical or social distancing, quarantining, ventilation of indoor spaces, use of face masks or coverings in public, covering coughs and sneezes, hand washing, and keeping unwashed hands away from the face. While drugs have been developed to inhibit the virus, the primary treatment is still symptomatic, managing the disease through supportive care, isolation, and experimental measures.

A Casino is a facility for certain types of gambling. Casinos are often built near or combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships, and other tourist attractions.

Casino games generally fall into several categories: gaming machines such as slot machines, table games such as blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and craps, and random number games such as keno and bingo.[1][2] Most games offered have mathematically determined odds that ensure the house holds an advantage over the players, an advantage known as the house edge.[3] In games where patrons play against each other, such as poker, the venue instead takes a commission called the rake.[4] Some games involve an element of skill, while others depend entirely on chance.

The first known European gambling house was the Ridotto, established in Venice in 1638.[5] During the 19th and 20th centuries casinos spread across Europe and the United States, with Las Vegas and Monte Carlo becoming internationally recognized gambling destinations.[6] In recent decades the industry has expanded rapidly through legalization in new jurisdictions and the growth of online platforms.

Modern casinos rely on extensive security to deter cheating, theft, and fraud by patrons and staff alike, including surveillance cameras, trained personnel, and electronic monitoring of games.[7] Many also use technologies such as chip tracking and automated wheels to detect statistical irregularities.[8] Responsible-gambling programs, self-exclusion schemes, and regulatory oversight are commonly implemented to limit problem gambling and underage participation.

Economically, casinos can generate significant revenue and employment through gaming taxes and tourism.[9] Their social impact remains debated, with research linking gambling availability to addiction and financial hardship for a minority of players.[10] Governments regulate the industry through licensing, taxation, and advertising restrictions, and the legality of casino gambling varies widely between countries and jurisdictions.