From Las Vegas to China, Monaco to Singapore, the best casinos are where high stakes meet high luxury. The world’s biggest and most exclusive gambling dens provide opulent suites, spas, fine dining and top-billed entertainment shows alongside the roulette wheel and blackjack tables.
The precise origin of casino is a matter of controversy, but it is generally agreed that the first gambling houses were establishments where locals could wager on various games of chance with a fixed price and exchange currency. Over time, these facilities came to include other forms of entertainment besides gambling, such as concerts and dining, and eventually evolved into today’s modern casinos.
Often built near or combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, cruise ships and other tourist attractions, modern casinos have become a major source of revenue for many destinations. The global casino industry generates more than a trillion dollars annually.
While some gamblers are willing to put down tens of thousands of dollars at a time, others are content with a few hundred bucks and prefer to place bets on horse races, sports teams or even the weather. A wide variety of casino-related businesses have emerged, including online casinos and racetracks where customers can wager on events from the comfort of their homes.
Although the famous MGM Grand on the Strip in Las Vegas claims to be the world’s largest casino, that distinction actually belongs to a much less glamorous venue in Ledyard, Connecticut. It may not be as sexy as the glitzy ‘Baby’, but it packs in a massive range of gaming tables and over 1,300 slot machines.