A casino, also known as a gaming house or gambling hall, is an establishment where people can gamble and play games of chance. Casinos usually feature a wide variety of gambling activities, such as slots, table games, and poker. Some casinos also offer shows and other entertainment. Many casinos are located in or combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, and cruise ships.
A modern casino may be like an indoor amusement park for adults, with glitzy stage shows and lighted fountains to lure in customers, but it wouldn’t exist without the games of chance that make it profitable. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps, keno, and other games of chance are the bread and butter of the industry, providing billions in revenue each year to owners.
While some casinos are run by legitimate businessmen, others have been financed by organized crime. The mafia provided cash for casinos in Reno and Las Vegas, often taking sole or partial ownership and influencing game outcomes. These tainted casinos contributed to gambling’s seamy image, which helped fuel public opposition to legalized casinos in the United States.
Nowadays, casinos are choosier about who they let in. They focus on “high rollers,” who spend much more than average and bring in more profits. They often gamble in special rooms, separate from the main floor, where stakes can be tens of thousands of dollars. High rollers also receive comps, such as free hotel rooms, meals, tickets to shows, and even limo service and airline tickets.