A casino is a place where people gamble by playing games of chance or in some cases with an element of skill, such as roulette, baccarat, blackjack and video poker. Most games have mathematically determined odds that ensure the house will always have a negative expectation relative to the players, this advantage is called the house edge. Casinos are operated by individuals or groups who make money through a gambling license. They often offer free or discounted items to their best players, these are known as comps. Casinos are sometimes associated with entertainment, top-notch hotels, restaurants and spas.
The casino concept was first popularized in the United States when the mafia began funding Reno and Las Vegas casinos in the 1950s. Organized crime figures had plenty of cash from their drug dealing, extortion and loan sharking activities to put into casinos. They also liked the fact that casinos gave them a sexy, glamorous image without having to worry about the moral and ethical implications of running a public business like a gambling joint.
While the idea of casinos appealed to the mob, legitimate businessmen were hesitant to get involved because they had a bad reputation for being associated with illegal activities and corruption. Then the state of Nevada legalized gambling and casino owners realized they could draw in visitors from across the nation and even the world.
Casinos rely on their profits from patrons to pay for lavish hotel rooms, spectacular entertainment and other amenities. They are also responsible for creating many jobs and boosting local economies in cities that depend on them for a large portion of their tax revenue.