A casino is a place where gambling is legal and where people can enjoy games of chance. Some casinos add a variety of other attractions, such as restaurants, bars, shops and entertainment. They are often designed to resemble luxury venues, and may feature dramatic scenery, top-notch hotels and spas, and an array of table games and slot machines.
Casino gambling is usually illegal in the United States, but many American Indian reservations have casinos that are exempt from state laws. Many people go to casinos for the excitement and glamour that they offer. Some are grand and glitzy, while others are quaint and intimate. In 2005, the average casino gambler was a forty-six-year-old female from a household with above-average income. This group made up 23% of all casino gamblers, according to research by Roper Reports GfK NOP and the U.S. Gaming Panel by TNS.
In modern casinos, security is a major priority. Many casinos employ a combination of physical and specialized surveillance departments to ensure the safety of patrons, employees and assets. These departments work closely together and are able to respond quickly to reports of suspicious or definite criminal activity.
In addition to high-tech video cameras and monitoring systems, casinos use other technologies to monitor the games themselves. For example, betting chips with built-in microcircuitry enable the casino to oversee the exact amounts wagered minute by minute and to warn players immediately of any anomaly; roulette wheels are electronically monitored regularly to discover and quickly correct any statistical deviations from expected results.
