Dumb Question: Casino vs. Gambling Hall vs. Resort
June 2nd, 2010 at 10:53:07 PM
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So, I suppose this might have the ability to go down as a stupid question. But I promised I would ask.
A couple weekends ago, making the stop at Bill's Gambling Hall in order to try out the RapidCraps, the topic came up of why is it called a Gambling Hall? A visit to Pahrump also yielded a Gambling Hall. And thus, the major question, being, is there a difference between a Casino and a Gambling Hall? Not only would I be interested in informal stuff, but I'm mainly interested in legal and/or technical distinctions that would require a place to be called one or the other.
On a related note would be the use of the word Resort. Some places call themselves a Casino and Resort, or a Casino and Hotel. I just wonder, again, if there is some legal and/or technical difference between a Hotel and a Resort.
A couple weekends ago, making the stop at Bill's Gambling Hall in order to try out the RapidCraps, the topic came up of why is it called a Gambling Hall? A visit to Pahrump also yielded a Gambling Hall. And thus, the major question, being, is there a difference between a Casino and a Gambling Hall? Not only would I be interested in informal stuff, but I'm mainly interested in legal and/or technical distinctions that would require a place to be called one or the other.
On a related note would be the use of the word Resort. Some places call themselves a Casino and Resort, or a Casino and Hotel. I just wonder, again, if there is some legal and/or technical difference between a Hotel and a Resort.
June 3rd, 2010 at 12:47:18 AM
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I doubt there is any legal difference between those words. Here is what comes to my mind:
Gambling Hall: An old fashioned place that is unashamedly mostly about the gambling. The OLD Binion's comes to my mind as fitting the description. I think Harrah's renamed the place that with that word so it would falsely seem like some small family run place in the midst of big corporate properties.
Resort: Should be a big place you don't need to leave for days to have a good vacation. It should have a good pool, lots of restaurants, and preferably bowling, shopping, movies, or a show.
Casino: General term for a place for casino gambling. Similar to a "gambling hall" but more modern and classy.
Gambling Hall: An old fashioned place that is unashamedly mostly about the gambling. The OLD Binion's comes to my mind as fitting the description. I think Harrah's renamed the place that with that word so it would falsely seem like some small family run place in the midst of big corporate properties.
Resort: Should be a big place you don't need to leave for days to have a good vacation. It should have a good pool, lots of restaurants, and preferably bowling, shopping, movies, or a show.
Casino: General term for a place for casino gambling. Similar to a "gambling hall" but more modern and classy.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
June 3rd, 2010 at 2:38:10 AM
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Sort of the difference between saloon and tavern?
Its only a marketing ploy. The name, the exterior facade, the interior decorations, the uniforms ... all fit a certain theme. Gambling Salon is the European term and casinos that had full Baccarat tried to evoke a similar look and feel with the game played in a separate alcove filled with chandeliers and evening dress.
The various terms are of no legal significance.
Its only a marketing ploy. The name, the exterior facade, the interior decorations, the uniforms ... all fit a certain theme. Gambling Salon is the European term and casinos that had full Baccarat tried to evoke a similar look and feel with the game played in a separate alcove filled with chandeliers and evening dress.
The various terms are of no legal significance.
June 3rd, 2010 at 4:48:26 AM
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To me a Gambling Hall is a place where there might have been sawdust on the floor at one time; unabashadly about gambling. "Non Gaming Revenue" was not even a concept.
"Casino" is any, well, casino. But the casino would ba attached to a hotel.
Resort to me is any self-contained place where all your needs are met and you need not carry any keys except the credit card like thingy to open your room and charge incidentials. Many casinos are parts of "resorts" but other resords (eg: Disney) have no casino.
Me? I like a locals gambling hall.
"Casino" is any, well, casino. But the casino would ba attached to a hotel.
Resort to me is any self-contained place where all your needs are met and you need not carry any keys except the credit card like thingy to open your room and charge incidentials. Many casinos are parts of "resorts" but other resords (eg: Disney) have no casino.
Me? I like a locals gambling hall.
All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others
June 3rd, 2010 at 6:22:33 AM
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The word casino is of Italian origin meaning "small house." Ergo all the references to the casino as the "house." Gambling Hall would be the English version of Casino.
BTW in Mexico the word "casino" used to be applied to any large place that provided amusement and dining. There was a place in Cuernavaca called "Casino de la Selva," wch featured several pools, a small hotel and a few restaurants. But gambling isn't necessarily a part of the place. In fact in this place there was nothing even remotely akin to gambling.
The word is rarely used so anymore. It was rather archaic to begin with, and the "Casino de la Selva" (literally "Casino of the Jungle," which is odd since there's nothing at all like a jungle within 600 miles of Cuernavaca) was demolished some years ago and a Costco and shopping mall erected in its place. Also many of the sports books, bingo and slot parlors that ahve cropped up in the past decade are now calling themselves casinos.
Me, I only call aplace a casino if it has table games, maybe also if it has VP.
BTW in Mexico the word "casino" used to be applied to any large place that provided amusement and dining. There was a place in Cuernavaca called "Casino de la Selva," wch featured several pools, a small hotel and a few restaurants. But gambling isn't necessarily a part of the place. In fact in this place there was nothing even remotely akin to gambling.
The word is rarely used so anymore. It was rather archaic to begin with, and the "Casino de la Selva" (literally "Casino of the Jungle," which is odd since there's nothing at all like a jungle within 600 miles of Cuernavaca) was demolished some years ago and a Costco and shopping mall erected in its place. Also many of the sports books, bingo and slot parlors that ahve cropped up in the past decade are now calling themselves casinos.
Me, I only call aplace a casino if it has table games, maybe also if it has VP.
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
June 3rd, 2010 at 6:35:14 AM
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Last year the the pit boss at Bill's told me there are only 2 or 3 gambling halls left in Vegas including Bills. It has something to do with the way commisions are paid before or after a bet is place.
Last Man at the Table
June 3rd, 2010 at 7:00:25 AM
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Quote: Nareed
BTW in Mexico the word "casino" used to be applied to any large place that provided amusement and dining.
That must explain the "casino" on Catalina Island, which has nothing to do with gambling.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
June 3rd, 2010 at 7:00:50 AM
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Interesting.Quote: NareedBTW in Mexico the word "casino" used to be applied to any large place that provided amusement and dining.
I recently learned that there was a 'casino' in Asbury Park NJ, some 60 miles north of Atlantic City.
The casino housed dining and amusements, but no gambling. It got it's start around 1900, and died around 1980, although the facade is still there.
I learned about it when I was surfing on the website of the DJ company one of my freinds owns, when I bumped into this photo:
Admin note: removed image www.djteddybear.com/images/elite_staff.jpg
Thinking it was somewhere in A.C., I asked him about it since I had never seen it before.
He told me the facade is a famous local landmark, and since they are located in the next town, he used it for his staff photo. Mike, the owner, is in the red vest.
I invented a few casino games. Info:
http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ —————————————————————————————————————
Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
June 3rd, 2010 at 7:55:54 AM
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I don't have a good citation for this, but I believe that "casino" often is used to mean a social gathering place, perhaps with food or beverage, but mostly a place where people might hang out with friends or for entertainment. Gambling might be a part of the social aspect. This meaning would apply at Catalina Island, where I believe that the facility was used primarily for concerts, dances, and the like.
Almost thirty years ago, I spent a brief period in Egypt. My leftover map of Cairo and Giza shows a casino quite near the Sphinx, right behind the seating area for the Sound and Light Show. In reality, there was more of a snack bar with a limited table seating area, perhaps a bit like a food court in a mall. Certainly not a gambling spot. Today, I think that near the great pyramids there may actually be a gambling casino that has opened since I was there. I think back when I was there, there was also a non-gambling casino area along the waterfront in Alexandria.
It somewhat amused my American associates and me while we were in Egypt that this non-gambling facility was what our Egyptian associates understood in using the term "casino." In fact, there were gambling casinos in several of the tourist hotels, and we made use of them. Those establishments were not open to Egyptian citizens, and our associates, not aware they even existed, were surprised when we told them.
As for the term "resort", I have developed the attitude that in Las Vegas it mostly means a hotel that wants to tack on a "resort fee" without really providing anything more than the non-resort hotel across the street.
Almost thirty years ago, I spent a brief period in Egypt. My leftover map of Cairo and Giza shows a casino quite near the Sphinx, right behind the seating area for the Sound and Light Show. In reality, there was more of a snack bar with a limited table seating area, perhaps a bit like a food court in a mall. Certainly not a gambling spot. Today, I think that near the great pyramids there may actually be a gambling casino that has opened since I was there. I think back when I was there, there was also a non-gambling casino area along the waterfront in Alexandria.
It somewhat amused my American associates and me while we were in Egypt that this non-gambling facility was what our Egyptian associates understood in using the term "casino." In fact, there were gambling casinos in several of the tourist hotels, and we made use of them. Those establishments were not open to Egyptian citizens, and our associates, not aware they even existed, were surprised when we told them.
As for the term "resort", I have developed the attitude that in Las Vegas it mostly means a hotel that wants to tack on a "resort fee" without really providing anything more than the non-resort hotel across the street.
