A casino is a place where people can gamble on games of chance, typically table games like blackjack and roulette. Some casinos add a variety of extra luxuries and entertainment shows to draw in customers. Most states require casino patrons to be of legal gambling age.
In a survey of casino patrons conducted in March 2002 by Gemini Research, 50% of those who gambled at a casino chose slot machines as their favorite game. Card games (such as poker and blackjack) came in second, with 8% of the vote. The other top games were bingo and keno, with 6% each, and sports/racing wagers and other pull-tab games, with 5%.
The majority of gamblers go to casinos with family members or friends, and 82% of those surveyed said they go to a casino to have fun. Some patrons also said they gamble at a casino to relax after a stressful day or to earn money.
Casinos use many techniques to encourage people to gamble, including color schemes, soundscapes and scents. They often have a loud, partylike atmosphere that is designed to be exciting and lively. Many offer free drinks and food to attract customers and keep them gambling longer.
A large amount of time and effort goes into casino security. Many tables are supervised by pit bosses or managers who can watch over all the action at once and spot cheating, such as palming cards or marking dice. Elaborate surveillance systems give a high-tech eye-in-the-sky view of every table and window. Each slot machine is wired to a central server, so any statistical deviation stands out in sharp relief.
