A casino is a place where gambling activities take place. It is usually a large, lavish building that houses various games of chance and also provides stage shows and other entertainment. Modern casinos are also often combined with hotels, restaurants, resorts and shopping areas in a single complex.
Gambling is a popular pasttime for about 51 million Americans. It is the fourth most popular form of entertainment in the United States, after sports, movies and theater. Most of these casino patrons are over the age of forty-six and most come from households with above-average incomes. They are more likely to be married than the average American and have at least two children.
Something about gambling seems to encourage people to cheat, steal and scam their way into a jackpot instead of simply winning by random chance. This has forced casinos to spend a lot of time and money on security. The latest high-tech systems include a “eye-in-the-sky” surveillance system that can watch every table, window and doorway at once. These cameras are controlled by a separate department that can monitor them for unusual activity.
In the old days, organized crime groups financed many casinos. Mob money gave casinos an opulent image that attracted wealthy people and sparked a boom in tourism. After mob corruption was exposed, legitimate businessmen with deep pockets bought out the gangsters and ran casinos without the mob’s taint of illegal rackets. In addition to enforcing strict rules of behavior, casinos reward loyal gamblers with free rooms and meals, show tickets and reduced-fare transportation.