What Is a Casino?

A casino is a facility where people can gamble. It also offers other entertainment, such as theaters and restaurants. Some casinos are enormous, with a huge variety of games, and beautiful decor. Others are smaller, and focus on one type of game, like poker or blackjack. Still others are small, and have a more intimate atmosphere. Some are famous, like the Bellagio in Las Vegas, and some are historical, like the elegant spa town of Baden-Baden, which was originally visited by royalty and aristocrats 150 years ago.

Something about gambling (or perhaps just the presence of large amounts of money) encourages some people to cheat, steal or scam their way into a jackpot, rather than waiting for a lucky stroke of the dice. Because of this, casinos are often heavily policed to deter crime and maintain a strict rule of conduct for patrons.

In addition to security personnel, modern casinos employ a variety of technology to monitor and control the actual gambling processes. For example, electronic systems in casino tables allow casinos to oversee the exact amount wagered minute by minute; roulette wheels are electronically monitored to discover any statistical deviations from expected results; and slot machines are wired so that the payouts are controlled remotely.

In 2005, a survey by Roper Reports GfK NOP found that the average American casino gambler was a forty-six-year-old woman from a household with an above-average income. This age group is the largest segment of the casino gambling market, making up 23% of all gamblers.