A casino is a gambling establishment that offers a variety of gambling activities. In addition to slot machines and table games, many casinos offer entertainment options such as floor shows, restaurants, shopping, golf courses, and spas. Casinos are usually located near hotels and resorts, or are standalone buildings. Depending on the jurisdiction, casinos may be regulated by government agencies. Some casinos offer a wide range of gaming options, while others specialize in one or more types of games.
In the United States, approximately 51 million people—about a quarter of all Americans over age 21—visited a casino in 2002. These visitors spent a total of $25.7 billion, an average of $600 per person. Casino tourism is a huge business, with the top gambling destinations including Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and New Jersey. But there are also casinos in Iowa, Illinois, and other states as well as overseas destinations like Macau and Hong Kong.
While the dazzling lights, musical shows, and upscale restaurants that define the modern casino help lure gamblers, it’s the games of chance that keep them coming back. Slot machines, poker, blackjack, craps, and roulette are all games of chance, although some require an element of skill. The house always has an advantage over the players, however, as its mathematical odds are designed to ensure a long-term profit.
Nevertheless, there is no doubt that casino gambling is popular and has a social impact. Unlike lotteries and Internet gambling, which are relatively impersonal, casino gambling is a social activity, with gamblers often sitting or standing around tables or machines surrounded by other people. They shout encouragement to their neighbors, and waiters circulate with alcoholic drinks.
Another reason for the popularity of casinos is the convenience factor. For example, in Nevada, where gambling is legal, the state runs shuttle buses that run nonstop from all over the state to the casinos. In addition, flights to Las Vegas and other major cities are frequent and affordable. And of course, casino gambling is legal in most states, and there are also many illegal pai gow parlors in New York’s Chinatown.
The typical casino gambler is a forty-six-year-old female with above-average income, according to a 2005 study by Roper Reports GfK NOP and the U.S. Gambling Panel by TNS. Heavily involved in high-stakes gambling, these big spenders are the lifeblood of casinos and receive special attention such as free hotel rooms, meals, tickets to shows, and limo service. In fact, a few casinos even give away private jets to their best customers.
