Casinos, the world’s most popular gambling destinations, provide billions of dollars in revenues for their owners, investors and Native American tribes. The massive resorts feature restaurants, hotels, non-gambling gaming rooms and more. Casino games include table games such as blackjack and roulette, card games like poker and baccarat, and slot machines. In addition to the high-profile gaming destinations, casino-type games are also found in racetracks and truck stops, and even in bars, restaurants and some grocery stores.
While casinos have evolved into much more than simply gambling halls, they still make money mostly from gamblers. The profits from their slot machines, table games and other casino games generate the billions in revenue that keep them operating worldwide. But what exactly is it about these gaudy places that draws people in? Certainly, music and elaborate decorations help, but most of the money is made from games of chance.
Gambling has been around for centuries, though its precise origin is unknown. It was certainly a popular pastime in Ancient Mesopotamia, Rome and Elizabethan England. In modern times, it has become the world’s most popular form of entertainment. People from all over the world travel to Las Vegas, Atlantic City and other casino hotspots to play.
To maximize their profits, casinos rely on a mix of strategies. They encourage people to gamble by offering perks, which are known as comps. These can include free hotel rooms, meals, shows or other entertainment. They also entice gamblers by giving them discounts on buffets and room rates. They may even give away airline tickets and limo service to big players.
Historically, casinos have attracted organized crime figures with plenty of cash from illegal drug dealing and other rackets. They often helped run the gambling operations, and mobsters controlled many of the largest casino empires in Nevada. Casinos are now generally owned by corporations, private investors and Native American tribes. However, their seamy image persists, and they have been criticized for a lack of customer service and security.
In the 1990s, casinos drastically increased their use of technology to monitor and control the games themselves. In some cases, chips have built-in microcircuitry that allows casinos to oversee wagers minute-by-minute and warn of any anomaly; roulette wheels are electronically monitored for statistical deviations. Video cameras monitor gaming tables and provide surveillance throughout the casino floor.
The casino at Monte-Carlo is a particularly lavish example of this trend. It opened in 1856 and is partially owned by the country’s royal family. It shares a building with the country’s opera house and has been featured in numerous movies. Among other things, it has two fine dining restaurants and a seventh-floor salon. In 2007, the casino was expanded into a new facility designed by the architect Mario Botta, who has also worked on major churches and museums. It overlooks the Italian-Swiss border and provides views of Lake Lugano. It is also home to a top-floor music hall and two elegant lounges.
