Casino is a gambling establishment that offers a variety of gaming opportunities. These include blackjack, roulette, poker, baccarat, craps, and other games of chance. Casinos may also offer restaurants, bars, and other entertainment. They are often located in or near hotels, resorts, and cruise ships. Casinos may be owned by individuals, corporations, or associations.

Gambling casinos usually have security measures in place to prevent cheating and stealing. Because large amounts of money are handled within a casino, both patrons and employees are susceptible to temptation; therefore, most casinos have measures in place to deter these behaviors. Security cameras, for instance, are commonly used in casinos.

Something about gambling attracts a certain sort of people—mobsters, swindlers and con artists. Mob money flowed into Reno and Las Vegas in the 1950s, bringing with it a taint of criminality that continues to this day. Mobster involvement in casinos, however, has shifted from providing the necessary bankroll to personally taking full or partial ownership of some casinos and even exerting direct control over gaming decisions.

Casinos are temples of excess, a place where the most decadent pleasures are available to anyone who’s willing to risk their hard-earned cash and test their luck. These ten casinos, decked out in opulent furnishings and overflowing bars, elevate the thrill of throwing down your chips to an art form.