A casino is a gambling establishment offering customers an opportunity to gamble on games of chance or skill. It may also offer other types of entertainment such as concerts or stand-up comedy. A casino can be built inside or outside a hotel, resort, cruise ship, retail shop or other type of venue. The precise origin of gambling is not known, but it has existed in many cultures throughout history. Some casinos are known for their glitz and glamour, while others have more historic roots.

The glittering skyline of Macau, east Asia’s version of Vegas, is dominated by the city’s most defining landmark, the Hotel Lisboa. This $3.4 billion temple to excess is crowned by the world’s largest LED dome, made from over a million LED lights. But it’s not just a visual spectacle; the casino inside lives up to this surface decadence, with 800 tables and 6,000 slot machines spread across several large and elaborately decorated floors. And for those averse to a flutter, the casino offers gourmet restaurants and pop-up art installations.

The elegant spa town of Baden-Baden first became a playground for Europe’s royalty and aristocracy 150 years ago. Today it attracts more than just the well-heeled, with a thriving casino that’s renowned for its 152 table games and red-and-gold poker rooms. If it’s your first time playing at a casino, avoid craps and roulette, with their complicated betting options and jargon (the horn, field, inside/outside bets, don’t pass). Instead, try your luck at one of the more straightforward games, such as blackjack or baccarat.