A casino is a place where games of chance are played and winnings are collected. Many casinos add stage shows, restaurants, hotels and other luxuries to their facilities but they all house gambling activities. Even if it weren’t for the millions of dollars that gamblers win or lose, casinos would be interesting places to visit because of the way they draw in people.
Casinos use many tricks to lure people in and keep them there. Spectacular lights, gaudy floor and wall coverings and the clang of dropping coins all stimulate human senses. More than 15,000 miles of neon tubing is used to light casinos along the Las Vegas Strip. Some casinos also feature a large selection of slot machines to attract people in off hours.
Gambling was illegal in the United States for most of its history, but the glitzy lures of casinos drew people in from all over the world. In the early 1990s Nevada became the first state to legalize casinos, but it took decades before the trend spread to other states.
Most people think of Las Vegas when they hear the word casino, but there are casinos all over the world. Some are much less lavish than others, but they all have one thing in common: gambling. Many casinos concentrate on high rollers, offering them free luxury suites and other perks. Big spenders are also given comps like discounted travel packages, meals and show tickets. Because every game offered in a casino has a mathematical expectancy of winning, it is rare for a patron to walk away without any money.