The casino industry rakes in billions each year for the casinos, investors, companies, and Native American tribes that own and operate them. Though many of the amenities a modern casino offers—lighting, shopping centers, musical shows, elaborate themes and lavish hotels—help draw in gamblers, the business remains primarily a gambling establishment. Gambling games like slots, blackjack, roulette and craps are the main source of this revenue, but they wouldn’t exist without the players.
According to Harrah’s Entertainment, in 2005 the typical casino gambler was a forty-six-year-old female from a family with above average income. However, a significant number of gamblers were also under the age of 40. These younger people, often from households with below-average incomes, can be just as enthusiastic about their casino gambling.
Most land-based casinos are highly regulated and heavily secured. Their security begins on the casino floor, where employees watch the games and patrons to make sure everything goes as it should. Dealers are trained to spot blatant cheating tactics, such as palming or marking cards or dice. Table managers and pit bosses oversee the casino’s tables with a more broader view, watching for betting patterns that could signal cheating.
From the 1960s to the 1980s, casino gambling expanded in Nevada and on several American Indian reservations. As a result, mobsters, who were already involved in illegal rackets such as drug dealing and extortion, became more interested in the profits to be gained from gaming. Mob money helped finance the growth of Reno and Las Vegas, but the mafia’s seamy image was difficult to shake off.