A casino, also called a gambling house or kasino (Spanish) or a gaming hall (English), is a facility for certain types of gambling. In addition to slot machines and table games, many casinos offer restaurants, theaters and other entertainment. Some casinos are combined with hotels, resorts or other tourist attractions.
Something about the sheer amount of money handled in a casino encourages patrons to cheat and steal, either in collusion or on their own; this is why casinos spend so much time and money on security. At the most basic level, dealers keep their eyes on their own tables to make sure that no one is palming cards or marking dice; pit bosses watch over the table games with a broader view and note betting patterns that might indicate collusion; and managers supervise everyone from the top down to make sure that they are following procedures.
Traditionally, a casino’s main source of revenue has been the profits that it makes from the games of chance it offers. In order to maximize this revenue, casinos have gone to extraordinary lengths to attract and retain gamblers, offering them free food, drinks, stage shows and other luxuries.
This has sometimes caused problems, particularly when mob money began flowing into Reno and Las Vegas in the 1950s. Mafia figures were eager to cash in on the new popularity of gambling, and they took full or partial ownership of many casinos and became personally involved in their management, attempting to influence game outcomes and intimidating casino personnel.