A casino, sometimes known as a gaming hall or gambling room, is an establishment where people can play games of chance for money. Modern casinos often include entertainment such as musical shows and lighted fountains to draw in patrons, but they would not exist without the billions of dollars that people gamble each year. The Bellagio in Las Vegas, for example, is famous for its dancing fountains and luxurious rooms and suites, but the casino’s true lure is its games of chance.
Because large amounts of currency are handled within a casino, both patrons and staff may be tempted to cheat or steal, either in collusion or independently. To discourage such activity, casinos employ a variety of security measures. For example, most have cameras throughout the facility and do not display clocks on their walls, which can help patrons lose track of time. Bright and often gaudy floor and wall coverings, such as red, are also used to stimulate the senses and keep players alert.
Casinos often entice high-stakes players with expensive “comps” (free gambling coupons) and lavish personal attention. These high rollers gamble in special rooms, separate from the main casino floor, where their bets can be worth tens of thousands of dollars or more.
In the United States, the typical casino gambler is a forty-six-year-old female from a household with above-average income. This demographic makes up the largest portion of American casino gamblers, according to surveys conducted by Roper Reports GfK NOP and TNS.