A casino is a facility where people gamble for money and prizes. It is a popular form of entertainment. There are different types of games that are played at casinos and they vary in the rules and regulations that govern them. Some of the most popular games at casinos include poker, roulette and slot machines. Casinos are located all over the world and are regulated by government laws. Some states have even changed their gambling laws to allow casinos, especially in areas where they can generate the most revenue.
Something about gambling – perhaps the presence of large amounts of money – encourages both patrons and employees to cheat, steal or lie. This is why most casinos spend a great deal of time, effort and money on security. Video cameras are used extensively to supervise the games and to capture any suspicious behavior; betting chips have built-in microcircuitry that enables them to be tracked minute by minute; and roulette wheels are electronically monitored for statistical deviations.
Mafia money flowed steadily into Reno and Las Vegas in the 1950s, but mobsters soon realized that they could make more from legitimate business operations than their seamy gambling ventures. Real estate investors and hotel chains saw the opportunity and started buying out casinos, making it harder for the mob to control them. Mob involvement still exists today, however, especially in Atlantic City where the federal crackdown on illegal gaming has made it more difficult for gangsters to operate casinos.
