From the glitz of Las Vegas to the illegal pai gow parlors of New York City, casinos provide an environment for people to gamble and play games of chance. Some casinos are large, multi-level resorts with a large number of slot machines and table games, while others are smaller, more intimate facilities. In addition to gambling, most casinos offer other forms of entertainment, such as live music and theater shows, and some even have restaurants and hotels.
Casinos earn money by charging a commission to players of certain games, known as the house edge. This fee is a fraction of the total amount bet on each game, and it is earned by the house regardless of whether a player wins or loses. The size of the house edge can vary, depending on the rules and types of games played.
In the past, casinos relied on organized crime to run their operations. Mob members had plenty of cash from their drug dealing and extortion rackets, so they were willing to invest it in gambling. They also took sole or partial ownership of casinos and often influenced decisions made by casino managers. Federal crackdowns on the mob and the possibility of losing a gambling license at the faintest hint of Mafia involvement eventually forced mob-owned casinos to get out of the business.
Today, casinos focus on customer service and perks designed to encourage and reward high-spending gamblers. They also spend a lot of time, effort and money on security. They employ a combination of physical security and specialized surveillance departments, and they monitor the activities of all guests in and around the casino using closed circuit television cameras.