A casino is a building or establishment where people play games of chance. It is usually accompanied by restaurants, hotels and shopping malls.

The word casino comes from the Italian word “casa,” which means little house. Gambling in casinos has become a popular recreational activity among the rich and famous.

Today, casino resorts offer the most luxurious leisurely experiences that money can buy. Guests can indulge in fine dining, enjoy exclusive performances by music stars, circus troops, stand-up comedians and more.

A casino can be located in almost any country. Some are built on American Indian reservations and on riverboats, while others are on land.

Most casinos have security cameras and surveillance personnel. Some have catwalks in the ceiling above the gaming floor, which allow surveillance personnel to watch directly down on the activities of players at slot machines and at tables.

In addition to games of chance, some casinos offer traditional Far Eastern games such as sic bo (a game of chance that spread from China to several European and American casinos during the 1990s) and fan-tan. Some also host other games such as two-up, banca francesa, and pai-gow.

The world’s largest casino is the Venetian Macao in China, a 229,000-square-foot casino built by Sands Enterprises. It features 850 gambling tables and 3400 slot machines, and is one of six in the company’s line-up in Macau.