A casino is a gambling establishment that offers a wide range of games of chance for people to gamble in. Some casinos also offer food and beverage services, stage shows and dramatic scenery to provide a unique and memorable experience for patrons. The modern casino is more of an indoor amusement park than a traditional gambling house. The games that are played in a casino include slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps, and keno. The games have different rules and pay out varying amounts of money depending on the rules, the amount bet, and other factors.
The casino industry is largely regulated in most countries. Most states regulate the number of gaming tables, limit the maximum bets, and establish the minimum age for casino patrons. The regulations often focus on the potential for addiction to gambling and the need to encourage responsible play. In addition, most casinos employ a large number of people, including managers, security personnel, and dealers.
The average casino gambler is a forty-six year old female from a household with above-average income. In 2005, this demographic accounted for 23% of all casino gamblers, according to research conducted by Roper Reports GfK NOP and the U.S. Gaming Panel by TNS. In addition, older parents with available vacation time and spending money make up the majority of visitors to Las Vegas and other gaming destinations. In addition to the American casino games, many of these venues feature traditional Far Eastern games such as sic bo (which spread from Asia to several European and American casinos during the 1990s), fan-tan, and pai gow.