A casino, or gambling house, is an establishment where people can play games of chance or skill for money. Some casinos offer food and drink, and some have theaters for live entertainment. Casinos can be found in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and other major cities around the world, as well as on American Indian reservations and in some states that allow riverboat casinos. Casino-type games are also available in some racetracks, truck stops and bars.
Modern casinos are much like indoor amusement parks, with music shows, shopping centers and elaborate themes helping draw in the crowds. But the vast majority of casino profits — billions of dollars a year — come from gambling. Slot machines, card games like poker and blackjack, and wheel games like roulette and craps bring in the big bucks.
The casino industry is a cash cow, with huge profits for the owners and employees, and taxes for local governments. But casino gambling has a darker side, with organized crime figures making big money running casinos in Nevada and elsewhere. The mob controlled many casinos, and the mobsters often threatened to beat up dealers and other workers. Legitimate businessmen with no mob ties were reluctant to invest in casinos, worried about the taint of association with illegal rackets.
A casino’s security starts on the floor, with employees constantly watching patrons and looking for signs of cheating. Dealers can easily spot blatant cheating, such as palming cards or marking dice, and pit bosses watch over table games with a wider view, ensuring that patrons are not stealing chips from each other. Elaborate surveillance systems give security workers a high-tech “eye-in-the-sky,” with cameras in the ceiling watching every table, window and doorway.