A casino is a special establishment where people can gamble on various games of chance and win money. It also offers food, drinks and entertainment. Legal facilities of this kind can be found in many countries around the world. The best known casinos are in Las Vegas, Reno, and Atlantic City.
A large percentage of these casinos are owned by organized crime figures. Mob money flowed into Las Vegas and Reno in the 1950s, allowing gambling to become an important part of the local economy. However, the mobsters were not content to just provide the funds for these operations. They often became involved in a more personal way, taking sole or partial ownership of casinos and controlling their operations. Mob influence also extended to the decisions of gaming floor personnel.
Casinos are known for creating a manufactured sense of bliss, which is why they use pleasant scents and dazzling lights to attract patrons. In addition, they have elaborate security systems that can be adjusted to focus on specific suspicious patrons. They can even detect cheating and other crimes using cameras. They can also monitor the behavior of patrons in different areas of the casino, including the slot machines.
One of the reasons why movies frequently feature casino scenes is because they are highly thrilling and exciting. This is especially true of the Martin Scorsese movie Casino, which is based on the nonfiction book Casino by Nicholas Pileggi. The film does an excellent job of showing the shady side of Las Vegas, while still keeping its glamour and excitement.