Who are Gamblers? 

Studies have shown that today's casino players are typically graduates in white-collar jobs with a higher than average income, who gamble to win money. A survey carried out by Roper Starch Worldwide Inc. of New York found that, for three out of four casino visitors, their prime motive is to win, while 57 per cent go for entertainment and recreation. Australians are the western world's biggest gamblers, spending over $2,000 a year per head of population. A close second are Americans at $1,800 per head of population.

Casinos operate around the world, mainly in tourist areas including Las Vegas, Australia's Gold Coast, and resorts in the Mediterranean and Caribbean. Gaming is mostly state controlled and is an important contributor to national and local revenues, although percentages vary from country to country.

The USA

Gaming is a huge industry in the USA, where it is legal in 24 states. There has been a casino building boom in recent years, particularly in Nevada. Gambling was legalized in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in 1978, to revitalize the rundown seaside resort.

Indian Gaming

In 1987, after a legal battle, the US Supreme Court finally recognized the right of native Americans to operate gaming establishments on their reservations. Since 1989, over 300 new gaming operations have been established on Indian reservations. The largest casino in the world, Foxwoods Resort in Connecticut, is owned and operated by the Mashantucket Tribe and attracts over 16 million visitors annually. It comprises two hotels and five separate casinos. Foxwoods has 140,000m² (1,5 million sq ft) of floor space, of which 28,000m² (300,000 sq ft) is devoted to gaming.

Las Vegas reigns supreme as the "casino capital" of the world, attracting 30 million visitors annually to over 50 casinos. When Wilbur Clark opened the Desert Inn on 24 April 1950, he ceremonially threw away the keys, announcing there would never be a reason to lock the door again. The tradition continues today, with most Las Vegas casinos opening 24 hours, seven days a week. The minimum age for gambling in Nevada is 21 years.

The UK

The 1960s saw the legalization in the UK. Bringing the gaming industry within the law led to the implementation of strict controls to regulate payouts and how the games operate. The Gaming Board of Great Britain ensures the fair running of casinos and scrutinizes casino personnel and operators. Of the UK's 116 casinos, 21 are located in London, with the remainder in major cities and tourist areas.

Europe

Almost all countries in continental Europe have casinos. France has government-regulated casinos in over 170 towns and cities. Spain legalized casinos in the late 1970s and also allows slot machines in bars and arcades. In the Netherlands, a government company, Holland Casinos, was established to operate the casinos, which now exist in ten locations. Greece has nine casinos, which are privately-run government-allocated franchises. Belgium's eight casinos remain illegal but are tolerated by the government, which imposes taxation on them.

Australia

In the 1970s casinos were legalized in Australia. They are run by private operators under franchises granted by the government. Fourteen casinos now operate in the major cities and Gold Coast resorts, contributing a $2 billion annually to state revenues.

Canada

Canada began opening government-owned casinos in the early 1990s and now has a number of resort casinos that attract tourists, as well as some smaller provincial casinos catering for the local population.

South Africa

Although South Africa introduced casino gaming during the apartheid era, confining it to the so-called "independent homelands", the demise of apartheid meant that the country had to face up to the reality of legalizing gaming operations that were formerly not considered to be within the boundaries of the state. Casino gaming was recognized in 1994 and a rationalization process, under the Gambling Board, has ensured that lucrative gaming licenses are equitable distributed throughout all nine provinces.