A casino is an establishment that offers various types of gambling. These include games of chance and skill that involve a dealer, or those played against other players, such as poker or video poker.
Aside from offering traditional gambling games, some casinos also offer non-gambling entertainment, hotels, restaurants and other tourist attractions. This is often done as a way to draw in people who would otherwise not gamble, or to appeal to a wider audience.
The word casino may refer to:
Casino, originally, meant a public hall for music and dancing; by the second half of the 19th century, it had come to be associated with a collection of gaming or gambling rooms. Today, the modern casino is an enormous complex that incorporates a variety of entertainment and leisure activities. It has become a major source of revenue for many states, especially those located on the coasts. It also has become a popular destination for tourists and businessmen. Over 51 million people—a number equivalent to roughly a quarter of the United States population over 21—visit casinos each year, according to the American Gaming Association. These visitors travel from all over the world to places like Las Vegas, Atlantic City and the illegal pai gow parlors of New York’s Chinatown. Casinos are designed around noise, light and excitement. Several of them feature stage shows and dramatic scenery. In some cases, they offer luxuries that may not be found at other gambling establishments, such as free drinks and exotic locales.