A Casino is a gambling establishment where people can place bets on games of chance, such as craps or poker. These facilities can also offer food, drinks, entertainment and luxury accommodations. Casinos are operated by a number of governments and private businesses, and they are often combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops or cruise ships. They are sometimes also known as gaming houses or gambling dens.
In the United States, casinos are generally licensed by state gaming boards and operate on a cash basis. Unlike most other forms of gambling, casino gambling is social, with players interacting directly or in small groups as they play table games such as blackjack and poker or surrounded by other patrons as they spin the reels of slot machines. The noise level is usually high, with a thump, clang, and whir of the machines as well as the shouts and cheers of winning or losing gamblers. Alcoholic drinks are easily accessible, with waiters circulating the floor and delivering drinks to patrons at tables or slots.
Gambling is a popular pastime among many Americans, and the industry generates large amounts of revenue. A 2004 survey conducted for the American Gaming Association by Hart Research Associates and Luntz Research Companies regarding casino gambling acceptability found that 54% of those surveyed felt it was acceptable to gamble at a casino. To lure players, most casinos offer “comps” (complimentary) such as free or discounted meals, drinks, shows, and hotel rooms.