A Casino is a place where gambling games are played, with the goal of winning money. There are large casinos with slot machines and tables, as well as smaller card rooms and racinos (casino-type games at racetracks). Most casinos are designed around noise, light, and excitement. Players are surrounded by other people and often shout encouragement or criticism to each other. Alcoholic drinks are readily available and are served at the tables or on a roving cart; waiters also take care of nonalcoholic needs throughout the casino.
Successful casinos bring in billions of dollars each year for the companies, investors, and Native American tribes that operate them. They also generate huge revenue streams for local governments, which impose taxes and other fees on gamblers.
In the early days of casinos, organized crime figures provided the financial backbone for many establishments. In Nevada, mobsters were particularly attracted to the potential profits of the new gambling halls. In addition to simply providing the bankroll, they became personally involved, took sole or partial ownership of some casinos, and tried to influence outcomes by using threats of violence.
Despite the emphasis on chance, most casino games require some skill to play well. To compensate for this, casinos try to create an atmosphere of glitz and glamour. Bright colors, especially red, are used on walls and floor coverings because they stimulate the senses and encourage people to spend more time gambling. The absence of clocks on the casino walls is intentional: It is thought that seeing a real clock would cause people to lose track of time and spend more money.