A casino, or gaming establishment, is a facility for certain types of gambling. Successful casinos bring in billions of dollars each year for the companies, investors, and corporations that own and operate them. They also reap revenues from local, state and federal taxes and fees. Many casinos are combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants and other entertainment facilities. Others are located at racetracks and other venues, or on ships or barges traveling the nation’s rivers and waterways.
Gambling has been a part of human culture for millennia. It was practiced in China in 2300 B.C., followed by dice games in Rome around 500 A.D., and then card games such as baccarat in the 1400s. Today, casinos are found everywhere from glamorous Las Vegas strip megaplexes to illegal pai gow parlors in New York City’s Chinatown. In many cases, casinos have become destinations in their own right, drawing tourists from all over the world.
Casinos use a variety of tricks to lure gamblers and keep them playing. They have loud, pulsating music and flashing lights. They offer free drinks and snacks, and encourage people to socialize with one another. They often display simulated winners’ names and trophies to build up players’ egos. In addition, they have a built-in advantage over the gamblers, known as the house edge. This edge ensures that the casino will make a profit over the long run.
In the past, some of these casinos were run by organized crime groups. However, as real estate investors and hotel chains began to see the potential profits from casino ownership, they bought out the mob operators and started their own casinos. Now, casino owners are afraid of losing their licenses if even the slightest hint of Mafia involvement is suspected.
Modern casinos employ several strategies to reduce the chances of cheating and stealing. They have a physical security force that patrols the building and responds to calls for assistance or reports of suspicious activity. A specialized surveillance department operates the casino’s closed circuit television system, which is sometimes called an “eye in the sky.” The camera systems can be adjusted to focus on specific tables, rooms, or patrons.
Although the concept of a casino originated in Nevada, the first legal casinos opened in other states. In the 1990s, Iowa legalized riverboat gambling and other states soon followed suit, opening their own casinos to attract the tourists that would otherwise go to Nevada. Now, there are more than a hundred casinos in the United States and about 100 more outside the country. Some of these are huge, like the Bellagio in Las Vegas, while others are more modest in size but maintain the same high level of service. Some are in exotic locations, such as the elegant spa town of Baden-Baden, where Marlene Dietrich once played poker. Others are in cities that promote themselves as gaming centers, such as Macao and Singapore. Still others are in affluent neighborhoods, such as Beverly Hills and Miami.