A casino, also called a gambling establishment or gaming house, is a facility for playing games of chance. It is owned and operated by a private corporation, and patrons must be at least 21 years old to enter. Casinos offer a variety of entertainment, food and beverages to their customers. Several countries have legalized casinos, and many others are considering doing so. This article discusses the history of casinos, how they make money, and what to expect when you visit one.
Casinos rely on a variety of tricks to persuade people to gamble. Using a mix of light, sound and scents, they create an environment that appeals to the senses and rouses patrons’ emotions. The sounds of slot machines and the clang of coins dropping are electronically tuned to a musical key, and bells and whistles add to the excitement. The lighting is designed to be appealing to the human eye, and more than 15,000 miles (24,100 km) of neon tubing brightens the strip of casinos along Las Vegas Boulevard.
Security is a major concern in casinos, because large amounts of cash are handled. Both patrons and employees may be tempted to cheat or steal, either in collusion or independently; most casinos have security measures to prevent this. For example, table managers and pit bosses keep an eye on all betting patterns and may watch players to spot blatant cheating such as palming, marking or switching cards or dice. Elaborate surveillance systems have cameras throughout the casino that can be angled to focus on specific suspicious patrons.