A casino is a place where people gamble and play games of chance. It is also a facility where drinks and food are available for players and guests. Casinos are not only found in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, but they exist throughout the world. They have become a major tourist attraction and economic driver for many cities, towns, and states. The word casino is believed to be derived from the Latin tabula, which refers to a class of board games that include backgammon and draughts. These games are played on boards with vertical markings called “points” that are numbered from 1 to 12. The dice are rolled to determine the movement of the game pieces. A variety of rules and scoring systems are used.
The casinos are financed by the money gamblers bet and lose. They often offer a wide range of free items to attract and retain high-spending customers, such as food, hotel rooms, shows, limo service, and airline tickets. This is known as comping. Players who play a lot of table games or slot machines are considered good players by the casino and are given special treatment.
In the 1950s, gangsters began investing their cash in Reno and Las Vegas. Mob money helped the casino industry grow rapidly, but it was not enough to overcome gambling’s seamy image. Legitimate businessmen and real estate investors soon realized the potential of the casinos and bought out the mobsters. Today, casino companies are careful not to be associated with mobsters because of federal anti-mob laws.