Recent surveys show that more Americans are playing at casinos than ever before. A recent survey by Harrah’s Entertainment found that 24% of Americans visited a casino in the past year. Of those who visited a casino, nearly half were over 45 years of age and had an average income. According to the survey, the average age of a casino goer is 46 years old and comes from a household with more disposable income than the national average.
Before 1988, gambling was illegal throughout the United States. However, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) of 1988 made gambling legal in Nevada. Since then, tribal casinos and commercial casinos have grown rapidly. Today, there are over 1,000 casinos operating in 40 states. Casino patrons spend more than $37 billion each year in gambling, and another $10 billion on sports and entertainment. Some casinos are full-fledged entertainment centers with a variety of activities.
A major source of revenue for a casino comes from its high rollers. These high rollers spend far more than the average casino patron. They often gamble in special rooms that are separate from the main casino floor, and their stakes are in the tens of thousands of dollars. As a result, casinos make millions of dollars annually from these high rollers. In return, these high rollers receive luxurious suites for free and lavish personal attention.