What Is a Casino?

A casino (also called a gambling house, or casin) is an establishment for certain types of gambling. Casinos are most often built near or combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, and other tourist attractions. Some casinos are also known for hosting live entertainment events.

There are no precise dates for the origin of gambling, but it is widely believed that games of chance have been around for millennia. The precise rules and regulations that govern casinos vary significantly from country to country, but the general consensus is that patrons must be at least 21 years old to play most games. In the United States, there are a total of 2,147 licensed and unlicensed casinos in 920 cities, with the largest number of them located in Las Vegas.

In addition to the usual array of table games and slot machines, many casinos feature state-of-the-art sports betting facilities. The MGM Grand in Las Vegas, for example, has 60 large plasma TVs where gamblers can place bets on American football, boxing, and martial arts, while enjoying drinks and snacks from the bar.

There’s nothing quite like a trip to one of the world’s top casino destinations. These ten temples of temptation are decked out in opulent furnishings and overflowing bars, where gambling is elevated to an art form.