A casino is a place where people gamble and play games of chance. It can be a small building with a limited selection of games or it may be a massive megacasino that has all the usual gaming options plus hotels, restaurants, non-gambling game rooms, spas, swimming pools and more. Regardless of size, casinos are designed to impress with their sleek design and impressive array of entertainment offerings.
Something about gambling seems to encourage people to cheat or scam their way into a win, so casinos spend a great deal of time and money on security measures. They employ cameras throughout the premises, and more advanced systems offer a high-tech “eye-in-the-sky” that can monitor every table, window or doorway at once. Roulette wheels are electronically monitored regularly, and any statistical deviation from normal operation is immediately detected.
Casinos are a significant source of tax revenue for many communities, and they can help to stimulate local economies by bringing in new business and increasing employment. Studies have shown that counties with casinos see a marked uptick in both employment and average wages, even after controlling for other factors.
Historically, casino gambling has been associated with organized crime. Mobster funds provided the backbone of the early Nevada casinos, and some mobsters became so involved that they took sole or partial ownership of some casinos and exerted control over others. This tainted the image of casinos, and some legitimate businessmen were reluctant to enter the market because it carried the stigma of illegal gambling.