A casino (or gambling house) is a place where people engage in gambling activities. Casinos are usually located near or combined with hotels, restaurants, shopping centers and other tourist attractions. In some countries, casinos are licensed and regulated by government authorities.
Gambling in a casino is typically social and exciting, with gamblers interacting directly with one another or indirectly through a game like roulette. Many casinos are designed around loud noises, bright lights and entertainment to encourage gambling. Alcoholic beverages are often freely available to players, and casino games are often played in a group setting, such as at a poker table or at a craps table.
In the twentieth century, as disposable income has increased all over the world and travel became cheaper and more convenient, casino gaming has become an increasingly popular activity. In 2008, 24% of American adults reported having visited a casino in the previous year. The typical casino patron is a forty-six-year-old female from a household with an above-average income. She is likely to be married and to have children.
Casinos make most of their profits by attracting high rollers, who gamble in special rooms where the stakes are in the tens of thousands of dollars. In return, these high spenders receive free shows and dinners or even limo service and airline tickets. Casinos also use technology to enhance security. For example, cameras watch every part of a table where money changes hands; betting chips have built-in microcircuitry that allows the casino to monitor their movements minute by minute and discover any abnormalities; and roulette wheels are electronically monitored to detect any statistical deviations from expected results.