A casino is usually a public facility for all forms of gambling. Casinos can be strategically built near popular tourist destinations, hotels, restaurants, cruise ships, casinos, or other popular tourist attractions. They also can be built to replace a single traditional casino or several traditional casinos. Many cities, such as Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Macao, and Monte Carlo, now contain multiple casinos. In the Bahamas, some of the many islands have entire casino districts.
Casinos in the United States began in the Bangor area of Maine in the early twentieth century. The United States government tried to end the monopoly by encouraging local gambling interests, and in the years since, state-funded organizations have supported and provided subsidies to Maine casinos. In the mid-Atlantic states, Maryland, Delaware, the District of Columbia, and Virginia each have at least one casino. Virginia’sneysport, Virginia Beach, and Chesapeake Bay offer both land and full casino gaming facilities.
The largest and most prosperous island gambling facility on the planet is Las Vegas, Nevada. It is estimated that it generates over thirteen billion dollars in revenue a year. One of the newest casinos to be built in the area is the Bellagio Resort and Casino. Although it does not yet have all of the world-class gaming that other casinos have, it is still an attractive option for travelers.
The state of New York is home to the world-famous Madison Square Garden, which attracts millions of visitors annually. Another highly visited New York casino is the Knott’s Berry Farm, which offers over one hundred and fifty different slot machines. Casinos in the United States are constantly being rebuilt and refurbished to accommodate the needs of today’s gambling enthusiasts. With the increasing number of casinos in the United States, organized crime syndicates and organized crime have found a home for a growing number of gambling opportunities. The New York State Department of Commerce estimates that over two hundred and forty casinos are in operation in the state of New York alone.
Other North American locations that are frequently cited as hot spots for casino gaming include Las Vegas, California; Atlantic City, New Jersey; Macao, Brazil; Monte Carlo, Italy; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Monte Carlo, Spain. Each of these locations boasts its own unique set of characteristics, from the quality of the local hotel to the quality of the local gambling environment. Many European cities have been successfully capitalized on the tourism boom in recent years, with increased casino activity and investment. Many of these cities feature world-class gambling facilities, such as Macao, Monte Carlo, Las Vegas and Barcelona, which attract many people to the cities for gaming opportunities.
In the Caribbean area, some of the world’s largest casinos are located, including the Virgin Islands’ Doral Bay Resort & Casino, which are home to over twelve hundred thousand visitors every year. The largest of these islands, Antigua, features a total of eleven casinos, including the Bellagio and the Venetian. The Bahamas, which is often referred to as the “Gambling Island”, is home to the Bellagio. In addition to casinos there are also many live entertainment venues, pubs and restaurants. The Grenada resort of Paradise, which has a water park and an award winning golf course, is another location frequently cited as a top destination for casino tourism.