A casino is a place to gamble for money or prizes. It has gaming tables, such as blackjack and poker, and slot machines. The largest casinos are US-based, but they are also found in China. They can be very opulent, like the Ibiza Gran Casino in Macau.
Casinos are largely a place of noise, light and excitement, with music and people moving around. Gamblers are encouraged to interact with one another and shout encouragement at other players, and drinks are often served. There are usually no clocks in a casino, as the idea is to distract people from thinking about time and money, and the lighting is designed to make things look brighter.
Something about gambling attracts people who want to cheat or steal, which is why casinos spend a lot of time and effort on security. Elaborate surveillance systems have cameras that provide a high-tech “eye in the sky” and can be focused on specific patrons by security workers in a room filled with banks of monitors.
In 2005, the average casino gambler was a forty-six-year-old female from a household with an above-average income. They were most likely to be married and own their own home, with a college degree or more education than the general population. This group accounted for 23% of casino gamblers. Many casinos cater to this demographic by offering discounts on food, drink and travel.