A casino is a building or room where various games of chance are played for money. Gambling is a much broader concept than simply playing games of chance, and it can occur in many settings outside of casinos. Casinos often add a variety of luxuries to help attract patrons, including restaurants, free drinks, and stage shows. While these amenities increase the cost of a visit, they can also enhance the entertainment value.
Historically, casinos have been associated with organized crime. However, as real estate investors and hotel chains got into the business of operating casinos, mob control was loosened. Currently, mob involvement in the industry is fairly rare.
Successful casinos bring in billions of dollars each year for the corporations, investors, and Native American tribes that run them. They also generate huge sums for state and local governments in taxes and fees. But critics argue that casino revenues pull spending from other forms of entertainment and that the costs of treating gambling addiction offset any economic gains.
Casinos are designed around noise, light, and excitement. They use bright and sometimes gaudy colors to stimulate the senses and distract players from thinking about their losses. They do not have clocks on the walls because they believe that seeing time can lead to bad decisions. They use elaborate surveillance systems to monitor the activity of the gamblers, and they have high-tech eye-in-the-sky cameras that can be directed to focus on specific suspicious individuals.