A casino is a facility where people can play games of chance. These games may include poker, roulette, blackjack, and craps. Some casinos also offer sports betting and horse racing. Casinos are typically licensed by state governments to operate and regulate the games. A casino may be operated by a private company or a public corporation. It is common for casinos to hire employees with extensive gaming experience.
Casinos attract gamblers by offering them a variety of incentives and bonuses. They are designed to be pleasing to the eye, with bright colors and lights. More than 15,000 miles of neon tubing illuminate the Las Vegas Strip casinos. Casino patrons are tempted by free drinks and snacks, discounted travel packages, luxurious living quarters, and other perks. The gambling industry employs mathematicians and computer programmers who study the house edge and variance of various casino games to create optimal strategies for the players.
In 2008, 24% of American adults reported having visited a casino. The majority of these visitors were females, aged forty-six years and older. They had above-average incomes and were more likely to be parents than other adult gamblers.
In the United States, a person must be at least 21 to gamble in a casino. Most casinos have security measures to prevent cheating and theft by both patrons and staff. These measures usually involve cameras and trained personnel. Because large amounts of money are handled within the facility, security measures are especially important for casinos.