Casinos are gambling facilities where people can play various games of chance. They also provide a variety of entertainment, including musical shows, lighted fountains, shopping centers and lavish hotels.

The Casino Industry

While the concept of gambling was illegal for most of the country’s history, casinos have managed to attract millions of people to their locations. Typically, casino owners have combined gambling with hotel rooms and other amenities to lure visitors, which has led to the formation of casino resorts.

The History of Casinos

Casino gaming began in Europe around the 17th century. However, it wasn’t until 1931 that the first casinos were allowed in the United States.

Today, casinos are found in every state in the country and throughout the world. Some of the most well-known include Las Vegas, Nevada; Monte Carlo, Monaco; Atlantic City, New Jersey; and Macao, China.

How They Make Their Money

The vast majority of the entertainment in a modern casino is provided by gambling, with slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps, keno and more providing billions of dollars in profit each year. While musical shows, lighted fountains and shopping centers help draw in the players, the casino would not exist without the games of chance.

How They Stay Safe

The casino industry employs a wide range of security measures to protect patrons from theft, fraud and other crimes. For example, video cameras and computers are used to monitor the games in real time.

Some casinos even have catwalks above the casino floor, so surveillance personnel can look directly down on players’ activities at the tables and slot machines. This can be very effective for catching suspicious activity.