The Casino Industry

When most people think of a casino, they imagine a Las Vegas megaresort rife with bright lights and fun gambling activities. While a casino’s ambience helps lure in customers, the real key to the business is gambling. Casinos rake in billions of dollars each year for the casinos, corporations, investors, and Native American tribes that own them. Local and state governments reap the benefits in the form of taxes and fees.

The casino industry is governed by federal and state laws that determine how much of a profit an establishment can make. In the United States, casinos are classified under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 713210. A casino is a place that offers a variety of gambling activities such as poker, slot machines, and table games like blackjack. Some casinos even offer other amenities such as hotels, restaurants, and shopping.

In the past, many of these gambling houses were controlled by organized crime gangsters who used their influence to draw in gamblers and keep them coming back for more. However, as real estate investors and hotel chains gained power in the gaming business, mob control was largely eliminated. Today, mob ties to the business are rarely seen and the casino industry is regulated and controlled by government agencies.

In addition to promoting their gambling activities, casinos also offer customer service in the form of frequent-flyer programs that award patrons for the amount of money they spend. These incentives often include discounted or free food and drinks, show tickets, hotel rooms, or slot play.