A casino is a place where people can gamble and play games of chance. Its most basic feature is a room or buildings where gambling takes place, but many casinos add luxuries such as restaurants, free drinks, stage shows and dramatic scenery. Some states have laws against gambling, but others, such as Nevada, have embraced it and turned their cities into giant entertainment centers. The casino concept is also spreading abroad, with new gambling establishments popping up on American Indian reservations and in other countries where the legalization of gambling is still a work in progress.
Casinos are highly competitive businesses, and their success depends on their ability to attract gamblers. They offer various incentives, known as comps, to encourage gamblers to spend more than they plan to. These may include food, drink and show tickets, hotel rooms or even limo service and airline tickets. Comps are usually given to gamblers who make large bets or spend a lot of time playing slot machines. Casinos have special rooms where high-rollers can gamble without being distracted by other patrons.
Although some casinos are run by legitimate businessmen, in the past organized crime groups provided much of the money for the early Las Vegas and Reno casinos. They did so because the casinos gave them a sexy image that appealed to their members’ base of clientele. Casinos also attract the attention of gamblers who are seeking a way to avoid state antigambling laws.