The Casino Business

Casinos have become a major source of entertainment for people around the world. They offer more than just slot machines, blackjack and roulette – they provide stage shows, shopping centers, lavish hotels and elaborate themes. But casinos would not exist without games of chance, and the billions of dollars in profits they generate each year depend on random luck.

While most people think of Las Vegas when they think of a casino, the modern gambling industry is scattered throughout the United States and abroad. From the gaudy hotel rooms and blaring lights of the Las Vegas Strip to the illegal pai gow parlors of New York’s Chinatown, casino gambling is everywhere.

Despite their often seedy image, the casinos are an extremely lucrative business. They bring in millions of people and generate billions of dollars each year. Moreover, casinos attract some very powerful and influential players. During the mobster-run gambling boom of the 1950s, organized crime figures supplied much of the money that made Reno and Las Vegas the gaming capital of the country. They also controlled much of the management and ownership.

Modern casinos are much more choosy about their clients. They focus their marketing efforts on attracting the highest-stakes gamblers, who can spend tens of thousands of dollars at a time. They reward these customers with perks known as “comps,” which can include free hotel rooms, meals and show tickets. Some casinos even offer limo service and airline tickets for high-stakes players.