A casino is a gambling establishment that offers games of chance and is designed to attract patrons who are interested in wagering. It might include a wide variety of attractions like restaurants, free drinks and stage shows to lure the crowds, but the casino’s primary function is to provide an environment where people can gamble for money.

While musical shows, lighted fountains, shopping centers and lavish hotels are all great draws to casinos, they wouldn’t exist without the billions of dollars in profits made by games of chance. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat and other table games bring in the dough.

Gambling has been around for centuries, starting with the discovery of wooden blocks used to make bets in 2300 BC China. Dice became popular in 500 BC, and playing cards arrived in 800 AD. The casino is a modern version of the old gambling hall, which was usually in a large public building and offered a variety of games of chance.

While mobster money once helped casino owners expand and improve their establishments, federal crackdowns on organized crime and the threat of losing a license at the slightest hint of mafia involvement meant that legitimate businessmen began buying out the mob’s stake in the casino industry. Today, major hotel chains, real estate investors and even Donald Trump have built their empires by buying out many of the old mob-controlled casinos in Las Vegas and Reno. These new owners, with their deep pockets and aversion to the morally questionable taint of mob ties, have kept the casinos safe from mob interference.