Whether you’re hitting the slots, throwing dice at a craps table, or practicing your poker face, a casino is the place to satisfy your gambling itch. There’s a lot to do at these gaming hubs, which usually also serve up great food and tasty drinks.
The casino is a modern invention, but gambling has been around as long as humans have. The ancients used primitive protodice — cut knuckle bones and carved six-sided dice — to gamble. Modern casinos are designed around noise, light and excitement. The walls are usually decorated in bright colors, and red is especially popular because it stimulates the brain. Waiters circulate to bring alcoholic drinks and nonalcoholic beverages, and the entire atmosphere is meant to be exciting and fun.
In 2005, the average casino gambler was a forty-six-year-old female from a household with above-average income. According to research by Harrah’s Entertainment, this group represents the largest portion of American casino gamblers. Other data suggests that a significant percentage of casino gamblers are elderly parents, with their children and grandchildren in tow.
Casinos offer a variety of games, including blackjack and video poker, as well as baccarat, chemin de fer, and trente et quarante (poker variants). In addition to slot machines, many casinos feature roulette wheels, and some even have a live dealer in a pit. Many of these establishments also feature speciality games, such as bingo and keno. These games are less complex than those found in the main floor area and have different rules for winning.