A casino is a building that acts as an entertainment centre for people to play games of chance. The popularity of casinos is growing rapidly, and they have become a major source of revenue for many countries. They feature a range of gambling activities such as slot machines, table games, and more. They also provide entertainment such as musical shows, lighted fountains and shopping centres. However, the vast majority of their profits come from the billions of dollars in revenue generated by gambling.
Something about gambling (and perhaps the large amounts of money involved) seems to encourage cheating and theft, so casinos spend a lot of time and effort on security. Besides the obvious cameras located throughout the facility, they employ other technological measures such as chip tracking to oversee betting minute-by-minute and warn employees of any deviations; and roulette wheels are electronically monitored for any statistical anomalies.
Another way casinos attract customers and encourage them to gamble is through comps, or complimentary goods or services. These can include free hotel rooms, meals, drinks and show tickets. In fact, during the 1970s Las Vegas casinos offered deep discounts on travel packages and cheap buffets to draw gamblers.
According to a survey by Harrah’s Entertainment, in 2005 the average casino gambler was a forty-six-year-old woman from a household with above-average income. This demographic accounts for over two-thirds of all casino gamblers. In contrast, only 12% of casino patrons were under age twenty-five.