When many Americans think of the term casino, they envision one of the huge resorts in Las Vegas. However, the definition of a casino is much broader than that, and casinos are found in cities throughout the United States, as well as overseas. They range from large, multi-purpose entertainment and gaming facilities to small, intimate gambling rooms. Some casinos are run by Native American tribes and others are owned by public corporations, investors, or private individuals. Regardless of size or ownership structure, most casinos have similar operating characteristics. They all seek to lure and keep patrons gambling for as long as possible, with the ultimate goal of turning a profit.

To that end, casino managers employ a variety of psychological and physical tactics. For example, the use of bright and sometimes gaudy colors is intended to stimulate and cheer players. There are also no clocks on the walls of most casinos, because it is believed that they encourage people to lose track of time and gamble longer.

The large amounts of cash handled in a casino make it vulnerable to cheating and theft. Both patrons and employees may be tempted to steal, either in collusion with each other or independently. Therefore, security measures are very important to casino management. Besides guards, cameras and electronic monitoring systems are employed to monitor activity and identify suspicious behavior.

In general, casino gaming is popular among those in the upper middle class and above. According to a survey conducted in 2002 by Gemini Research, 82% of those who acknowledged gambling in a casino said they did so with family members and friends. The survey also indicated that most casino gamblers are female, forty-six years of age or older, and have above average incomes.