The modern casino is a place where gambling is the main attraction. Musical shows, lighted fountains, restaurants and luxury hotels are added amenities that help casinos lure gamblers and make the billions of dollars in profits they bring in every year. But even without all these extras a casino would still be just a building that houses games of chance and where people wager money.
The gambling business has a built-in advantage over patrons that ensures the house will win more often than it loses. This advantage, known as the “house edge,” is baked into the rules of each game and is independent of skill or luck. It’s not just a matter of chance, though, that the house will win; it’s more a matter of how much the casino will win over a large number of plays and the overall length of time spent gambling.
Casinos attract many types of gamblers, but the typical visitor is a forty-six-year-old female from an above-average-income family. This age group makes up the largest percentage of casino gamblers, according to surveys conducted by Roper Reports GfK NOP and TNS. In general, gamblers are affluent people with more disposable income and vacation time than the average American. They tend to favor slot machines and poker, but will play any game that has an appealing layout and atmosphere. Those who gamble for longer periods of time or who bet more money will receive comps, such as free rooms, meals and tickets to shows.