A casino, also known as a gambling house or gaming palace, is an establishment for certain types of gambling. Its facilities may include a hotel, restaurant, nightclub, retail shops, and a gambling floor. In addition, some casinos host live entertainment events such as concerts and stand-up comedy acts. Casinos are most often found in or combined with hotels or resorts. They are sometimes built in cities with large numbers of tourists, such as Las Vegas and Macau.
Unlike some other games of chance, in which players compete against the house rather than each other, casino games are generally social activities. They are played in groups, and players shout encouragement or offer advice to fellow players. Generally, alcohol is freely available to gamblers, and the casino environment is designed around noise and excitement.
Because the house has a mathematical advantage over players in most casino games, they make money by charging a commission on winning bets or taking a percentage of the total amount of losing bets (known as the vigorish). This revenue source makes casinos very profitable and enables them to offer generous perks to high rollers. For example, they may provide free shows, food, rooms, or limo service to high-spending patrons.
In the 1950s, as casino gambling spread across the United States from Nevada, owners sought funds to finance expansion and renovate their properties. Organized crime figures provided the capital, and they took a hands-on role in some cases, controlling the operations of entire casinos. The mob’s seamy reputation tainted the image of the industry, and legitimate businessmen were reluctant to get involved.