The Best Casinos Aren’t Just Gambling Joints
The word casino conjures images of glitzy Las Vegas hotel towers and dazzling fountain shows, but casinos are much more than gambling joints. Some, like the elegant Casino Baden-Baden in Germany, have been popular with royalty and aristocracy for centuries. Others are so famous that they have made their way into countless movies and television shows. The best casinos offer something for everyone, whether you enjoy playing games of chance or just want to take in the sights and sounds.
The biggest casinos are often built in tourist areas, but the newest are also finding success overseas. They may be smaller than their American counterparts, but they have all the bells and whistles to keep you entertained, including dozens of table games and hundreds of slot machines. You’ll also find plenty of high-end restaurants and entertainment venues.
Casinos make money by offering a game with a built-in house edge, which is calculated to ensure that the casino will always win. While this advantage is usually small, over time it adds up and helps the casino earn millions of dollars from patrons. The casinos then use this money to build hotels, lavish fountains and replicas of landmarks or other famous places.
In the past, mobsters provided the funds to establish many of the original Nevada and Las Vegas casinos. The gangsters were willing to put up the cash, even though gambling had a seamy image and was illegal in many states. They were also able to buy a significant share of the casino companies and gain personal control over their operations.
Today, casinos are choosier about the money they invest in their gaming operations. They prefer to attract high rollers who gamble with tens of thousands of dollars at a time. These bettors get special rooms, which are separate from the main casino floor. They also receive comps such as free spectacular entertainment, discounted transportation and luxurious living quarters.
Casino security is another area where big spending is the norm. Elaborate surveillance systems provide a “eye-in-the-sky” view of the entire casino, which can be adjusted to focus on specific suspicious patrons by security workers who sit in a room filled with banks of monitors.
Casinos are designed to attract people by creating a buzz of excitement. They fill the air with noise, flashing lights and bright colors. They are also designed around the social aspect of gambling, whether you are directly interacting with other players as in poker or craps or simply surrounded by people as they play video poker or slot machines. Casinos are a big draw for tourists, who can spend billions of dollars in one place. The revenue they generate is often a key factor in the economy of cities and towns where the casinos are located. However, many gamblers can become addicted to the thrill of gambling and end up losing large amounts of money. This can damage families and cause financial problems. This is why casino security is a major concern for most gambling establishments.