Casino in a showcase
The history of many land casinos can be count in decades and as the years went by many of them developed a legend which surrounds them with stories of great winnings and losses, filled with millionaires, movie stars and elegant but ruthless gangsters. Places such as Monte Carlo, French Deuville and of course the gambling mecca of Las Vegas have for years collected stories of famous gamblers, poker legends or famous artists and the rich and famous of the past decades who could win or lose fortunes in the course of one night. With many casino fans fascinated by the dangerous glamour of the old days, it seems natural that casino museums emerge in known destinations, created by casinos themselves or simply passionate collectors.
One such example can be found in Las Vegas. Located in one of the casinos by the famous Strip, the Las Vegas Historic museum gives the visitors a chance to get a glimpse of the casino gambling history. Looking at old photos, gambling chips or slot machines casino fans can feel the atmosphere of the time when the Rat Pack used to hit the town and Binion was still running his famous Horseshoe.
But casino-founded museums do not necessarily have to filled with old roulette wheels and dice. The Mashantucket Pequot tribe, who runs Foxwoods, the largest casino in North America, have used part of their income from casino gambling to found a cultural research centre and museum commemorating the history and culture of their ancestors.
Such initiatives show casino activity can go beyond the gambling industry itself. While it can support commemorating casino history itself, it can also make important contribution to the local community.