Casino is a gambling establishment offering a variety of gambling games like baccarat, blackjack, roulette, craps and poker. It is a highly lucrative business, especially in the United States, where 51 million people (or almost half of all adults over 21) visited a casino in 2002. Because of the large amounts of money handled, casinos are susceptible to theft and cheating, either by patrons or by staff members, so security measures are taken seriously. This includes the use of surveillance cameras, as well as rules and regulations for patrons.
In addition to offering a wide range of casino games, the world’s best casinos offer first-class service and extra amenities, including golf, spas and restaurants. Some are so huge that they could fit into a small city. Others are palatial and opulent, catering to the whims of the wealthy clientele who visit them with their private planes and limousines. Some of these behemoths, such as Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, are so named because they cater to the Roman-themed tastes of their clientele, who often arrive at the hotel in their chauffeured vehicles and attend shows starring top celebrities.
Then there’s Macau, east Asia’s version of Sin City, whose Grand Lisboa is a skyscraper with more than a million LED lights. And, though Las Vegas might be best known for its casinos, America actually has the world’s biggest in Ledyard, Connecticut, operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Indian tribe. This is where you’ll find high-end poker rooms that draw professional players, and 2,000 slot machines with jackpots up to $2 million.