A casino uses technology to monitor the games it offers. Computers and video cameras routinely monitor the games. In addition, “chip tracking” involves using betting chips with built-in microcircuitry, which allows casinos to track wagers minute-by-minute. Roulette wheels are also regularly monitored for statistical deviations. Enclosed versions of some games are also available, which eliminate the need for dealers and let players place their bets with the push of a button.
The statistics about how many people play casino games are often based on a number of different surveys. One survey posed 2,000 American adults. Another study, the National Profile Study, involved face-to-face interviews with 2,000 Americans. A third survey included one million adults, and 57285 responded. The surveys found that the average casino gambler was a 46-year-old woman, from a household with a higher income than the average American. Many of these individuals are older, and therefore have more vacation time and more money to spend.
Although the term “casino” has become synonymous with Las Vegas, the word casino actually refers to a more general category. A casino is a public building where people play games of chance. Many casinos are situated near a tourist attraction and have live entertainment, such as concerts, shows, or restaurants. A casino may be as simple as a sports betting booth or as lavish as an entire hotel complex. But no matter what the definition, it is important to understand its history.