A casino is a place where games of chance are played for money or other prizes. It has long been associated with gambling, but the word has also been used to describe other pleasure-seeking activities and events, including concerts and social clubs. Many casinos are located in Las Vegas and have become a major tourist attraction, but they can be found worldwide.
Something about casinos seems to encourage cheating and shady behavior, which is why they spend a lot of time, energy and money on security. Most casino staff have a very close eye on the players to make sure they are not playing dirty. They can spot blatant cheating, such as palming or marking cards or dice. They can also watch for betting patterns that might indicate cheating. In addition to casino staff, casinos have high-tech security measures such as cameras and chip tracking, which can detect when a player has cheated or tried to change the outcome of a game.
The typical casino gambler is a forty-six-year-old female from a household with an above average income. In fact, women have become the largest segment of casino gamblers. In 2005, according to two national surveys conducted by Roper Reports GfK NOP and the U.S. Gaming Panel by TNS, more than twenty percent of Americans had visited a casino. In general, casino visitors are well educated and earn above the national average income. The financial base of American casinos comes from slots and video poker machines, which typically pay out at a rate of one to three cents for every dollar wagered.