A casino is a place where people can play a variety of gambling games. It may also offer shows and fine dining to attract more customers. Some casinos are located in large cities and some are located on Native American reservations. The United States is one of the best places in the world to find a casino, especially in the state of Nevada.
A number of casinos have opened in recent years. Most of them have been built in cities such as Las Vegas, Atlantic City and New Jersey. Other states have legalized casinos on Indian reservations, in riverboats or on pari-mutuel facilities. The most popular casino games include roulette, blackjack and video poker. Casinos are also known as card clubs or gambling houses.
The idea of a central place to enjoy all kinds of gambling activities dates back to primitive protodice and carved six-sided dice found in ancient archaeological sites [Source: Schwartz]. But the modern casino as we know it didn’t appear until the 16th century when the gaming craze swept Europe and wealthy Italian aristocrats gathered at private parties called ridotti to wager on sports and games.
Mobster money flowed steadily into Reno and Las Vegas casinos in the 1950s, and mobsters often became involved with these establishments directly as sole or partial owners and managers. Federal crackdowns on organized crime and the threat of losing a gaming license at the slightest hint of mafia connection helped weed out the mob influence, and hotels and real estate developers began to buy out the casinos.