A casino, also called a gambling house or a gaming house, is a place where people can gamble on various games of chance. These establishments can be large resorts with a variety of entertainment options, or they may be more modest places that only feature a handful of tables and machines. In either case, a successful casino will generate billions of dollars each year for the companies, investors and Native American tribes that own and operate them. Local governments will also reap tax revenues from these lucrative businesses.
A successful casino will also create a lot of jobs, both directly and indirectly. Many casinos employ security guards, dealers and other personnel to run the games. In addition, a casino might have restaurants, bars and other amenities that help attract customers. This type of business can be found in cities, towns and even rural areas.
Most modern casinos are built to lure customers with bright lights, pulsing music and other stimulation. Thousands of miles of neon tubing are used to light the Las Vegas strip. Games are arranged in a maze-like fashion to keep gamblers re-visiting the casino floor and re-engaging with their machines. Casino patrons are encouraged to interact with one another by shouting encouragement and cheering. Alcoholic drinks are available at a low cost and served by waiters who circulate the rooms.
The casino industry has grown rapidly in the United States since it became legalized in Nevada in 1931. Other states soon followed, including New Jersey in the early 1990s. This fueled a huge growth in casino profits, which are now in the billions each year. The most popular game in a casino is gambling on horse races and sports events.
While most people who play casino games do so for fun, some are influenced by the pressure of winning or losing. This is particularly true of high-stakes poker and other card games, where the potential for winning or losing large amounts of money can quickly become addictive. The most typical casino gambler is a middle-aged woman with above average income, according to 2005 studies from Roper Reports GfK NOP and the U.S. Gaming Panel from TNS. These gamblers are often women with children, who make up 23% of all casino gamblers.
In addition to the lights, sounds and other stimuli, a successful casino will use a number of tricks to entice gamblers to spend their money. For example, slot machines are arranged in a way that makes them difficult to leave; they are also designed to appeal to the senses of sight and touch. Many have bells, whistles and clangs that sound when coins drop, and they are electronically tuned to the musical key of C to be pleasing to the ear.
In the past, mobsters controlled many of the largest casinos in the United States, especially in Reno and Las Vegas. However, as mob money dwindled, real estate investors and hotel chains bought out the casinos and ran them without mob interference. In the twenty-first century, casinos are focusing on the high rollers, who bring in the most revenue. These high rollers are often given special rooms to gamble in and are offered comps worth thousands of dollars.