A casino is an establishment where people can gamble and play games of chance. Most casinos offer a variety of gambling games such as roulette, baccarat, blackjack and poker. Some also include other entertainment activities such as shows, shopping and dining. Casinos can be found around the world and are sometimes combined with hotels, restaurants and other tourist attractions.
Gambling in one form or another has been a part of nearly every culture throughout history. In modern times, most countries have legalized some form of casino gambling. Casinos have a reputation for being glamorous, expensive places that cater to high rollers and the rich. Some have fountains, towers and replicas of famous landmarks. Others have themed interiors such as Old Vegas, Paris or Rio de Janeiro.
Casinos make money by charging a percentage of each bet to players, called the house edge. This edge is generally very small, but over millions of bets it adds up. In addition to gambling, casinos often provide perks such as free hotel rooms and meals to lure in customers.
In the United States, casinos were historically run by organized crime syndicates. Mafia members supplied the bankroll for many Reno and Las Vegas casinos, but they often got too involved and were accused of bribery, fraud and illegal activities. Legitimate businessmen eventually began to invest in casinos, which became the foundation for a booming industry. These days mob involvement is minimal, and federal crackdowns on organized crime mean that even the faintest whiff of mafia links can taint a casino’s gaming license.