A casino is a gambling establishment where people can win or lose money through games of chance. These games include slot machines, roulette, craps, baccarat, blackjack and other table games as well as video poker. Some casinos have a skill element, but in general, the house has an advantage over the players, which is mathematically determined by the game’s odds. Casinos also provide entertainment to their customers by featuring a variety of shows, including musical performances and lighted fountains.
Something about casinos seems to encourage people to cheat or steal their way into a jackpot. This is why casinos spend a great deal of time, effort and money on security. This article takes a look at the history behind casinos, popular casino games and how they are played, how casinos stay safe and the dark side of casino business.
When casinos first began appearing in American cities, they were often on the waterfront. One of the most famous is located on Venice’s Grand Canals, where guests arrive by free boat shuttle. Casinos also sprung up on American Indian reservations, which are exempt from state antigambling laws. In the 1980s, some states amended their laws to permit casinos on riverboats or in land-based facilities.
In the beginning, mobster money funded a number of casinos in Reno and Las Vegas. Mobster involvement gave casinos a reputation for crime, and many legitimate businessmen were reluctant to invest in them. As the casino industry grew, real estate investors and hotel chains got involved. They had much deeper pockets than the mobsters and were able to buy out the gangsters and begin operating casinos without the taint of mob involvement.
