When many people think of casino, Las Vegas or Atlantic City might come to mind, but there are casinos all over the United States and the world. From luxurious resorts to small mountain towns whose 19th century Wild West buildings are now home to slot machines, casinos offer a variety of ways to try and win the elusive whims of Lady Luck. Musical shows, lighted fountains and shopping centers help lure visitors in, but most of the billions of dollars that casinos bring in are from gambling, with slot machines, poker, blackjack and games of chance providing the bulk of the profits.

Casinos are designed to encourage gambling by offering perks such as discounted hotel rooms and free show tickets. They also feature bright colors such as red, which is known to stimulate the senses and make gamblers feel more enthusiastic about their chances of winning. Casinos also have no clocks on the walls so that gamblers don’t keep track of time and lose focus. Casino security personnel watch players to see how they react and what their habits are, and routinely spot any deviations from the expected.

Until the 1950s, casino gambling was illegal in most of the country. Organized crime figures provided the money to open and run casinos in Reno, Nevada, and later in Las Vegas, but they wanted more than just a bankroll; they took sole or partial ownership of casinos and even influenced game outcomes. Federal crackdowns on mob involvement in casinos eventually pushed the mobsters out, and legitimate businessmen stepped in to take their places.