A casino is a place where people can play a variety of games of chance for money. While many casinos add luxuries like restaurants, stage shows and dramatic scenery to attract customers, the vast majority of the entertainment in a casino comes from gambling. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat and poker provide the billions of dollars in profits that casinos bring in each year.
The casino industry is dominated by large corporations with deep pockets. Once a haven for mobster control, casinos are now more often run by real estate developers and hotel chains that can afford to buy out the old guard and make sweeping changes to their properties. As a result, it is rare for a major casino to lose money for even one day.
The earliest casino-type establishments were saloons that offered a limited range of gambling activities. They usually consisted of a bar with several tables for card and dice games. Later, the concept was expanded to include hotels with gaming facilities. Modern casinos are extremely lavish places that offer everything from a high-tech “eye in the sky” to elaborate restaurants and shopping centers. Some are based on popular TV shows, while others are themed after famous cities or regions. All of them are staffed by trained personnel to ensure customer safety and security.