A casino is an establishment for certain types of gambling. These casinos are often combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and cruise ships or are standalone buildings. In some countries, casinos are licensed and regulated by government authorities. They are also often visited by tourists and locals. The word casino can also refer to a computer game.

The MGM Grand on the Las Vegas Strip is a storied gambling den that attracts hardened dollar spinners and curious newbies alike. As well as the usual range of table games and slot machines, this venerable gambling den is also famous for its sports betting facilities. With 60 large plasma televisions, it’s easy to flick a few coins on American football, boxing and soccer while sipping drinks and nibbling on snacks from the bar.

Casinos are often very secure places, with surveillance cameras everywhere and patrons required to keep their hands visible at all times. In addition, many casinos have catwalks on the ceiling that allow security personnel to look directly down through one way glass at the players at the tables and slots. Many casinos also have a dedicated floor for table games, where regular poker variants are played, with the house making its profit either by taking a percentage of each pot or charging an hourly fee for use of the tables.

The world’s largest casinos are often dazzling temples of decadence. Decked out with opulent furnishings and overflowing bars, they are where gambling is elevated to an art form. Here are ten of the most spectacular.