A casino (also called a gaming house or a gambling establishment) is an institution where people can gamble. Gambling is very common in many cultures around the world and casinos are often built in or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and other tourist attractions. The United States is the largest casino market in the world, followed by Romania and the Czech Republic.

In modern casinos, the emphasis is on technology to prevent cheating and stealing, which can occur either in collusion or independently. Security cameras monitor the casino floor to detect and deter misconduct, while chips with built-in microcircuitry allow casinos to track how much is wagered minute by minute and alert them to any statistical deviation from expected results. Roulette wheels are electronically monitored to discover any mechanical irregularities. Computers also run the games themselves, with some, like blackjack, even allowing players to make their own decisions through push buttons instead of dealing by hand.

The most famous casino in the world is probably the Bellagio, which has made its way into countless movies and TV shows and is known for its spectacular fountain show. But this is far from the only impressive gambling venue on our list. In these decadent temples of temptation, decked out in opulent furnishings and overflowing bars, gambling is elevated to an art form.