A casino is a place where people can gamble. It can also refer to a building that houses such establishments. The word is derived from the Latin ca
In American English the term casino may refer to one of several gambling establishments:
A survey conducted in 2004 showed that 32% of American respondents had visited a casino within the previous year. Among those who did, the majority indicated that they liked to play slot machines (in addition to other games), with card games such as blackjack and poker being second most popular. In contrast, keno and bingo accounted for only about 6% of the total, and wagering on sports/racing events and other forms of gambling only about 5%. Casinos go to great lengths to entice and keep gamblers in their facilities. Color, sound, and scent are all used to stimulate patrons and encourage them to spend more time gambling. In addition to a wide variety of gaming options, casinos often feature elaborate dining and entertainment venues, and even offer free luxurious accommodations. In fact, some casinos even operate in remote locations. Like any business in a capitalist society, casinos exist to make money. Those that are successful rake in billions each year for the corporations, investors, and Native American tribes that own them, as well as local and state governments that regulate and tax them. These figures do not include the millions of dollars that are withdrawn by individual gamblers.