A casino is a place where people can play games of chance for money. It might have a stage show, a hotel, restaurants or other luxuries to lure in customers, but it still is a gambling establishment at its core. The modern casino adds many things to the gambling experience, but games of chance like blackjack, roulette, craps and keno are what bring in the billions in profits casinos make every year.
The best casinos in the world are filled with opulent decor and a mind-blowing number of gambling tables, but there are also smaller casinos that can be just as exciting. These ten temples of temptation offer the ultimate in luxury for anyone who wants to test their luck at some of the most glamorous casinos in the world.
One of the most luxurious casinos in the world is located in the elegant spa town of Baden-Baden, Germany. It was once a playground for European royalty and aristocracy, but these days it draws visitors from all over the world who want to try their luck at its lavishly outfitted gaming rooms.
Another of the top casinos in the world is the Sun City Resort in Rustenburg, South Africa. It may seem odd to include a South African casino in a list of the most luxurious casinos in the world, but it is one of the largest and most popular gambling locations on the continent. In addition to a large gambling floor, it features pools, bars, restaurants and non-gambling entertainment.
Casinos around the world are using more and more technology to protect their players. Elaborate surveillance systems give security personnel a high-tech “eye in the sky” that allows them to watch all areas of a casino at once. The cameras can be focused on suspicious patrons by security workers in a separate room that is filled with banks of monitors. The video feeds are recorded, so if a crime or cheating is suspected, it can be reviewed and the culprit identified.
There are also a variety of different electronic monitoring systems for individual casino games. For example, some American casinos have special chips with built-in microcircuitry that allow them to track the exact amount being wagered minute by minute. Craps and roulette wheels are electronically monitored regularly to detect any deviations from their expected outcomes.
Even with all the technology and surveillance systems, however, casinos cannot entirely prevent cheating. A good way to avoid this is to never gamble with more than you can afford to lose, and always leave your checkbook and credit cards at home. It is also important to know the rules of each game before you start playing, and to be aware that if you have trouble controlling your urges, you may not be a good candidate for a casino experience. Compulsive gambling has been linked to a wide range of problems, from mental health issues to addiction and bankruptcy. Economic studies have shown that the net value of a casino to a community is often negative, when taking into account the costs of treatment for problem gambling and lost productivity from addicts.