Casino (pronounced “kasino”) is an entertainment center, usually with gambling and restaurant facilities, that is open to the public. Casinos are located in many countries around the world and are popular with visitors from abroad. Most of them have been featured in movies and television and attract tourists and locals alike.
The modern casino is much like an indoor amusement park for adults, with most of its profits coming from gambling. Musical shows, lighted fountains, shopping centers and elaborate themes help draw customers to the gaming floor. The games themselves range from the familiar poker and blackjack to the exotic sic bo, fan-tan and pai gow. Casinos offer a wide variety of betting limits and payout systems to appeal to every budget.
Security is a major concern for casinos, with employees patrolling the floors and watching for cheating and other irregularities. Card dealers, for example, are trained to spot palming and marking cards or switching dice. Pit bosses oversee table games with a wider view, checking for patterns of betting that might signal cheating. Casinos also use cameras to monitor the gambling areas.
In the 1950s, mob money flowed into Reno and Las Vegas, helping casinos overcome their seamy image. But the mobsters wanted more than just the bankroll; they took full or partial ownership of many casinos and exerted control over operations. Eventually, real estate investors and hotel chains got involved in the business and drove the mobsters out, as well as making it possible for legitimate businesses to gain a foothold in the industry without the threat of Mafia interference.