CASINOS
A casino is an establishment for gambling. It is a popular form of recreational and socializing activity. Most casinos are located in tourist destinations and offer games such as blackjack, roulette, poker, and baccarat. Casinos are also found on American Indian reservations, where they are not subject to state antigambling laws.
In the United States, there are more than 3,000 legal casinos. Most of these are commercial enterprises that are operated by private companies. Some are standalone facilities while others are part of hotels, restaurants, cruise ships, or other tourism-related businesses. The largest casinos are found in Las Vegas, Macau and Atlantic City.
The average casino gambler is a forty-six-year-old female from a household with above-average income. These people are most likely to take weekend bus trips to the nearest casino with friends. In 2005, they spent an average of 23% of their total disposable income on casino gambling.
Security in a casino starts on the floor, where casino employees watch the patrons to make sure everyone is following the rules. The casino’s sleuthy staff is well trained to spot blatant cheating, like palming cards or marking dice. They can also spot patterns of betting that are outside the norm. High-tech surveillance systems provide a kind of “eye in the sky,” allowing casino workers to monitor the whole floor from a room filled with banks of security screens.
Gambling revenue is the main source of profit for most casinos. While some casinos earn money from other sources such as food and drinks, they all rely on a steady stream of customers to generate revenue. This is especially true for high-stakes games, such as craps, where a large bet can easily generate thousands of dollars in winnings.