A casino (or gambling house) is a special establishment where people can gamble, play different games of chance or skill and win money. These establishments are mainly located in hotels, resorts, cruise ships, and even shopping centers. They usually feature various games of chance, like poker, blackjack and roulette, as well as slot machines.
While musical shows, lighted fountains, lavish hotel rooms and elaborate themes help casinos attract visitors, the vast majority of their profits come from gambling. Slot machines, craps, baccarat, keno and table games like blackjack and roulette generate the billions of dollars that casinos pull in every year. Some casinos are also known for their large selection of progressive jackpot slots, with a few offering jackpots exceeding $1 million!
Despite the fact that gambling probably predates recorded history, the modern casino as we know it only developed in the 16th century during a gambling craze that swept Europe. In its early days, a casino was essentially a private club for the rich, with members meeting in rooms called ridotti to bet on horse races and other games of chance. Gambling in public was technically illegal, but the aristocrats who frequented these clubs were rarely bothered by legal authorities.
Mafia money helped casinos thrive in Nevada during the 1950s, but the mob’s involvement quickly turned shady. The mobsters became personally involved, took full or partial ownership of some casinos, and used the revenue they generated to influence game outcomes. A combination of federal crackdowns and the possibility that a casino could lose its license at the slightest hint of mob influence eventually forced the mobsters out of the business.