A casino is a facility for certain types of gambling. These establishments may be standalone buildings or part of larger resorts, and they offer a variety of games and other activities such as dining, entertainment, shopping, and convention facilities. Most states have laws regulating the operations of casinos.

Despite their repute as a center of sin and excess, casinos are social places. They draw their customers primarily from urban areas and suburbanites with above-average incomes, who enjoy socializing with friends, playing cards or dice, and drinking alcohol. These patrons are also a large source of revenue; their average bet is higher than that of other gamblers.

Many casinos use bright, sometimes gaudy floor and wall coverings that stimulate the eye and create an exhilarating environment. Casinos typically avoid clocks, which might remind gamblers of their mortality; they use red as a theme color because it is thought to engender excitement and speed up the heart rate. During the 1990s, casinos increased their technology. Video cameras monitor gaming activities, and computers can track the odds of winning and losing. In addition, “chip tracking” systems allow surveillance personnel to supervise betting patterns minute by minute; and roulette wheels are electronically monitored for any statistical deviations from their expected results.

Unlike lotteries or Internet gambling, where people can play from home, a person must be physically present in a casino to place a bet. Because of this, state governments regulate the industry. In the United States, a person must be 21 or older to play, and it is against the law for minors to loiter in or around a casino.