A casino is a public place where a variety of games of chance can be played and gambling is the primary activity. Many casinos add extra luxuries such as restaurants, free drinks, stage shows and dramatic scenery to attract gamblers. But even without these added attractions, casinos can be exciting and fun to visit.
The casino is a popular place to gamble, and in the twentieth century, many casinos began to concentrate their investments on “high rollers”–gamblers who spend much more than average. These high rollers typically gamble in special rooms, separate from the main floor of the casino, where the stakes can be in the tens of thousands of dollars. In return, these gamblers are rewarded with complimentary goods and services such as free hotel rooms, meals, tickets to shows, and limo service.
In 2005, Harrah’s Entertainment reported that the average casino gambler was a forty-six-year-old female from a household with an above-average income. These people had more time and money to gamble than younger adults, and they were most likely to play blackjack, baccarat and video poker.
Casinos also have a notorious reputation for encouraging cheating and stealing. Many casinos are owned by organized crime figures who use the profits to finance other illegal activities such as drug dealing and extortion. In the past, mafia money helped keep Las Vegas and Reno going even when legal businessmen were reluctant to invest because of the taint of gambling.