A casino (or casiono, in Spanish) is a place where people can play a variety of games of chance for money. Some casinos are also known as gambling houses or kasino (in German). Casinos can be found all over the world, and are often combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and other entertainment venues.
Although casino-type establishments can feature musical shows, shopping centers, lighted fountains and elaborate themes, they are primarily places for gambling. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps and other games of chance generate billions in profits for casinos each year.
While there is some element of skill in some casino games, such as blackjack and baccarat, the majority of casino games have mathematically determined odds that give the house an advantage over players. This edge, which can be as low as two percent, allows casinos to cover operating costs and provide some compensation to high rollers. The casino earns money by taking a commission, or rake, from each game played.
Casinos have used a variety of security measures to protect patrons and ensure that the games are fair. Cameras and other electronic equipment keep an eye on patrons as they gamble, and some casinos have catwalks in the ceiling that allow surveillance personnel to look down through one-way glass directly at the tables and slots.
While the mob once owned many of Nevada’s casino businesses, federal crackdowns and the threat of losing a gaming license at even the slightest hint of mob involvement mean that today’s legitimate businessmen are the ones who run Vegas’s gaming cash cows. Nevertheless, some mobsters have still managed to find ways to get involved in the gambling industry, and they are still heavily influencing its future.
