A casino is a place where people gamble on games of chance. Successful ones make billions of dollars each year for the companies, investors, Native American tribes and state and local governments that own and operate them. They also bring in a lot of tourists who spend money on food, drink and entertainment. But there is a dark side to casinos, too: compulsive gambling can destroy families and ruin lives. And studies show that gambling can actually cost a community more than it brings in.
Something about the casino environment seems to encourage people to cheat, steal or scam their way into a jackpot. This is why casinos devote a significant amount of time, effort and money to security. Some casinos even have catwalks that allow surveillance personnel to look down on the games through one-way glass from above.
While gambling has existed since ancient times, the modern casino emerged in the United States after World War II when Nevada became the first state to legalize it. Other states soon followed, and the casino industry took off. In the late 1970s, Atlantic City began to attract more and more players.
Today, there are thousands of casinos around the globe. Some are tiny, while others are massive megacasinos that feature beautiful decor and a mindblowing number of games. The best casinos combine high stakes with opulence, offering spas, fine dining and dazzling rooms alongside the roulette wheel and blackjack table.
