A Casino is an establishment for gambling, usually featuring a variety of games of chance. Many casinos are also known for offering live entertainment and dining. Casinos are most commonly found in cities, tourist destinations and other areas where tourists are likely to gather. Some casinos are combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops or cruise ships. Others are standalone buildings or rooms designed around a particular theme or event, such as a race course or a renowned painting.
While it may be possible to lose money in a casino, gamblers are typically encouraged to place wagers by a combination of promotional tactics and the presence of other people, who may shout encouragement or offer advice on strategy. Various casino games have varying house edges and variance (a statistical measure of risk-taking), which are determined by mathematicians, computer programmers and others in the field of gaming analysis. Casinos use these figures to calculate their profits, and they also disclose them to gamblers on their websites and elsewhere.
In 2008, 24% of Americans reported having visited a casino. Those who do visit are mostly young, with more than half under the age of thirty-five. In contrast, older adults, particularly those with higher incomes, are less likely to participate in casino gambling. The upscale spa town of Baden-Baden, Germany, first became a popular destination for European royalty and the aristocracy 150 years ago, and its elegant casino still draws visitors from across the continent today.
