A casino is a place where people can gamble and play games of chance. Modern casinos often offer a wide variety of entertainment and food in addition to gambling. Some of the more popular games include slots, blackjack, roulette and poker. Casinos earn billions of dollars for their owners, investors and Native American tribes every year. Casino gambling is also legal at some racetracks and on boats and barges on waterways in several states.
Most casinos are designed to encourage gambling by providing a lively and exciting environment with plenty of noise, light, and excitement. The floors and walls are often brightly colored to enliven the gambling mood. Waiters circulate through the casino offering alcoholic drinks and nonalcoholic beverages. Gamblers can even receive complimentary meals, rooms and tickets to shows if they are big enough spenders (complimentaries, or comps).
A number of states have banned or restricted gambling, while others have built new casinos and expanded existing ones. The expansion of the gambling industry has had a mixed impact on the economy. Some economists argue that casinos bring in money from outside the region and boost local businesses, while others point to studies showing that the costs of treating problem gamblers and lost productivity due to addiction offset any economic gains. Additionally, some critics say that casinos lower nearby property values and hurt local housing markets. Despite these criticisms, the gambling industry continues to expand rapidly. In 2008, 24% of Americans reported having visited a casino in the previous year.
