A casino is a place where people gamble on games of chance, and in some cases with an element of skill. Licensed and regulated by government authorities, casinos operate worldwide, with the largest number in Europe and many in Las Vegas. They can be found combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, and cruise ships, or stand alone. Some casinos also host live entertainment, such as stand-up comedy and concerts.
The large amounts of money handled within a casino can make it tempting for both patrons and staff to cheat or steal, either in collusion or independently. For this reason, casinos spend a great deal of time and money on security measures. Security starts on the gaming floor, where dealers keep a close eye on their game to catch any blatant cheating. Pit bosses and table managers have a broader view of the tables to spot suspicious betting patterns.
In addition to security, casinos try to entice patrons to their establishments by using various tricks. The noises of slot machines, for example, are engineered by computer to be pleasing to the ears. The cling clang of coins as they drop is tuned to the musical key of C so that it fits in with the other ambient noise. Surveys show that a great majority of casino gamblers are middle-aged or older women from households with above-average incomes, and that most play in the company of family and friends. However, critics argue that the economic benefits of a casino to a community are offset by costs related to addiction treatment and loss of productivity from gambling addicts.