What Is a Casino?

A casino is a gambling establishment with tables, slot machines and other games of chance. Many casinos also have restaurants, bars, and live entertainment. The Bellagio in Las Vegas is famous for its dancing fountains and was the setting for the movie Ocean’s 11.

Most casino games have a mathematical advantage for the house, meaning that a player will lose more than he or she will win. Some games, such as blackjack and baccarat, require some degree of skill; others, like roulette, craps and video poker, depend on high volume and rapid play at low bet amounts to make a profit. Casinos have a variety of security measures to protect their patrons and property. These include cameras, security officers and a sophisticated surveillance system that constantly monitors the casino’s action.

Casinos rely on a variety of marketing tricks to attract customers and keep them playing. Windows are rarely used in casino buildings, as they would be a fire hazard; clocks are absent, too, because it is believed that the sound of ticking a clock drives gamblers away. Bright colors, especially red, are used to stimulate the senses of sight and hearing, and more than 15,000 miles of neon tubing illuminate the casinos along the Las Vegas Strip. Casinos also use aural stimuli to distract gamblers from the monotony of repetitive game play; sounds of clanging coins, bells and whistles are repeated in the background to draw attention away from the repetition of betting and wagering.