A casino is a gambling establishment where patrons wager money in games of chance and sometimes skill. It is often associated with lavishness because of the high stakes that are commonly involved. Some casinos also feature entertainment, restaurants and other amenities.
In the United States, 51 million people visited a casino in 2002. This represents about one quarter of all Americans over 21 years old and is comparable to the number who visited a ski resort or went to the movies during the same period. Many of these people visit several casinos in their area, but a smaller percentage travel to international destinations.
The most popular game in a casino is blackjack, followed by roulette and baccarat. Slot machines and video poker are other common games. Table games involve players sitting around a table designed for the specific game being played. A croupier or dealer enables the game and manages payments. Most of these games have mathematically determined odds, which give the house a uniformly negative expected value (from the player’s perspective). This advantage is called the house edge.
Something about the casino environment seems to encourage cheating and stealing, either in collusion or independently. This is probably why most casinos have extensive security measures. Many are decorated in bright and sometimes gaudy colors, including red, which is thought to make gamblers lose track of time. Casino employees constantly watch over the games, keeping a close eye on dealers and players to look for suspicious betting patterns.