A casino is a gambling establishment that offers games of chance. Customers gamble by placing bets on these games of chance, in some cases with an element of skill (such as blackjack or poker). The house always has a mathematical advantage over the patrons. This advantage is referred to as the house edge. Because of this, the average player will lose money over time.
Casinos are often crowded and noisy with people shouting encouragement or throwing coins at slot machines. Alcoholic drinks are readily available and delivered to players by waiters circulating throughout the facility. Nonalcoholic beverages and snacks are also provided. Some casinos offer free shows and transportation to attract visitors.
Despite being illegal for most of its history, the casino industry flourished in Nevada after it was legalized in 1931. However, it took a while for other states to follow suit and allow casino gambling within their borders. Until the early 1990s, casino ownership was often controlled by mob families or individuals with ties to organized crime. Legitimate businessmen with deeper pockets such as real estate investors and hotel chains began to buy out the mobs and open their own casinos.
In 2005, the typical casino gambler was a forty-six-year-old female from a household with an above-average income. Casinos have increased their use of technology to enhance security and monitor game play. For example, some casinos now have “chip tracking” systems that enable them to oversee betting chips’ exact amounts minute by minute and alert them to any statistical deviation from the expected results; roulette wheels are electronically monitored to discover quickly any irregularities.