A casino, or gaming house, is an establishment for gambling. It may also refer to a group of such establishments. In the United States, casinos are regulated by state and local governments. Some casinos are standalone facilities, while others are located within other commercial or entertainment venues, such as hotels, restaurants, and cruise ships. Regardless of location, modern casinos use advanced technology to monitor and control their operations. For example, in table games, electronic sensors allow casino employees to monitor exactly how much a player is betting minute by minute; and roulette wheels are electronically monitored regularly to discover any statistical deviation from expected results.
In addition to using technology to supervise their operations, casinos often manipulate the environment in other ways to encourage more gambling. Some casinos use music to affect how people behave; a study found that people who gambled while listening to low-tempo music made less risky bets, and they were more patient than those who played while hearing high-tempo music. Casinos can also create a manufactured blissful experience by wafting pleasant scents throughout their ventilation systems, which can make people feel more comfortable and increase their spending.
The glitzy Planet Hollywood attracts a young, party-going crowd with shows featuring burlesque dancers and elaborate magic tricks. The hotel has 90 table games and 3,000 slots and features celebrity memorabilia. Its ice bar offers cocktails with a view of the hotel’s 200,000-gallon shark aquarium. In addition, the resort features a pool complex and several bars, including the XS Nightclub, with its edgy electronic music and dramatic dancers.