A casino is a gambling establishment that allows people to play games of chance for money. Casinos are often located near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and other tourist attractions. Some casinos also host live entertainment events. In the United States, casinos are usually licensed by state governments.
In general, casino employees are very friendly and helpful. It is a good idea to tip them generously, especially if they are serving you drinks. They may have some inside information on which machines are hot and which ones to avoid. They may also be able to give you tips on how to win at various games. However, be careful because they could be working for another company.
According to the American Gaming Association, about 51 million people — roughly one quarter of the population over the age of 21 — visited a casino in 2002. Most of these people visited casinos in the United States, though a few went to other countries.
The most famous casinos are in Las Vegas, but there are many other places where you can try your luck. The elegant spa town of Baden-Baden, Germany, for example, was once a playground for European royalty and aristocracy, and it still draws visitors from all over the world to its beautiful casinos. Casinos are usually designed to be awe-inspiring, and they use bright and sometimes gaudy floor and wall coverings that are supposed to stimulate the senses. Most of them have no clocks on the walls because they believe that keeping track of time distracts gamblers from concentrating on their game.
