A casino is an establishment for certain types of gambling. These casinos may also have entertainment venues and restaurants. They are often combined with hotels, resorts, retail shops and cruise ships. In military and non-military usage, the term Casino is used for an officers’ mess.

Casinos use a variety of tricks to lure patrons into their gambling halls and keep them there. They rely on the senses of sight, sound and touch, with bright lights, bells and whistles. They often feature over-stimulating colors, such as red, that are known to increase the heart rate and blood pressure. The sound of money slamming into the slot machines, clanging coins on tables and cheers from other gamblers provide aural stimulation. They also entice the sense of smell with scented candles and incense. Casinos make their money by charging an edge to the players on games like craps, blackjack, roulette and poker. Depending on the game, the edge can be as low as two percent or as high as 14 percent. In addition, a percentage of the total amount bet is taken by the house for the use of the table and chairs, and the overhead costs for security, maintenance, food service and other expenses.

The typical casino gambler is a forty-six-year-old female who lives in a household with an above-average income. These people, who tend to have more vacation time and available spending money than younger adults, made up 23% of all casino gamblers in 2005 according to Roper Reports GfK NOP and the U.S. Gaming Panel by TNS. They are most likely to visit a local, full-service casino in an urban area.