SOME PEOPLE BRAKE FOR GARAGE SALES. I'M PROgrammed to detect any sign that says "casino." Strictly a slots player, I love the rapid-fire dinging when three matching symbols appear, and my heart beats a little faster at the clatter of coins cascading into the tray of a slot machine--specially when it's the one I'm playing and not the one next to me.

I'm not the only one who enjoys casino gambling; according to the Travel Industry Association (TIA), it's a common activity on many trips and one that is growing in popularity. TIA says that in 2002 eight percent of all U.S. travel trips included gambling, a figure that tied with nightlife/dancing. And casino gambling isn't limited to a specific segment of the population--it attracts males and females of all ages. Some parents even tote children along to destinations known for gambling, especially where there are family activities. Whether the allure is the possibility of striking it rich or just the exciting atmosphere, casinos seem to be here to stay, and new ones are being built all the time.

Gambling has been around in one form or other since ancient times, and in this country has passed in and out of legality. It's been in for some time now, and casinos can be found from north to south, east to west, on land and sea.

Nevada became the first state to legalize casinos. Las Vegas, with more than 50 casinos, is truly America's gambling mecca. Famous casino hotels along "The Strip" include the Mirage, Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, Tropicana, Paris Hotel and Casino, and many more. The excitement sometimes begins outside the hotels, where crowds gather to enjoy spectacular free shows such as the Bellagio's 900-foot-long dancing water fountains and the Mirage's erupting volcano.

Additional hotels and casinos are located in downtown Vegas, including the 50-plus-year-old landmark, the Golden Nugget, home to the world's largest single gold nugget. It stands tall beneath the razzle-dazzle of the Fremont Street Experience, a four-block-long, 90-foot-high electronic canopy of sight-and-sound shows.

Visitors to Vegas often take a side trip to another Nevada resort destination, Laughlin. Although it's small, with 11 casinos, Laughlin attracts around five million visitors annually. A bridge across the Colorado River links Laughlin with Bullhead City, Arizona.