Casino is a word that brings to mind images of massive gambling resorts in Las Vegas, but there are also many smaller casinos in states around the country. Moreover, some racetracks offer casino-type games in their facilities, known as racinos. Successful casinos bring in billions of dollars every year for the companies, investors, and Native American tribes that own them. Additionally, state and local governments collect revenue from casinos through taxes, fees, and other payments.
Gambling is the most common activity at a casino, but there are plenty of other activities as well. For example, some casinos feature a wide range of restaurants and stage shows to draw in patrons. Others have pools and other recreational facilities. In some cases, a casino may be a relic from the past, as in the case of a former horse track that has been converted to a gaming facility.
Casinos have a reputation for being seedy and glamorous places, and the gangsters that ran them in the past certainly lived up to that image. However, real estate investors and hotel chains soon realized how much money they could make from casinos. As a result, they bought out the mob and started running their own establishments without any taint of organized crime involvement. Nevertheless, the mob still controls some casinos in Nevada and other states.