A casino (also known as a gambling house or a gaming establishment) is an institution for certain types of gambling. These facilities are often combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and other tourist attractions. In some countries, casinos are licensed and regulated by government authorities. The games offered in these institutions are based on chance, but some have an element of skill. Some casinos also offer a variety of entertainment events and shows.

Modern casinos use a combination of physical security forces and specialized surveillance departments to protect guests and property. They usually patrol the floors, responding to requests for assistance or reporting suspicious or definite criminal activity. They may also have catwalks in the ceiling, allowing surveillance personnel to look down on the activities of tables and slots through one-way glass.

While many of the world’s largest casinos are found in Las Vegas, there is a burgeoning industry of casino building across Asia, too. Macao, once the Portuguese colony that is now East Asia’s Vegas, is home to several of the biggest, most dazzling and most money-making casinos in the world, including the Venetian Macao—the sixth-largest structure on earth. And in Brazil, the glamorous Rio de Janeiro resort takes its name from the city it calls home, with a Carnival atmosphere to go along with its opulent gambling floor. With 115 dining options and a huge selection of high-end boutiques, the Rio is nothing to scoff at.