What Is a Casino?

A casino (or , from Italian: casin) is an establishment for gambling. Most casinos offer a variety of games, including poker, blackjack, and roulette. Some casinos also offer a restaurant, a hotel, and other amenities. Most states regulate casino gambling, and some even ban it entirely. In the United States, there are more than 1,000 casinos.

Casinos can be found around the world, from the opulent, gold-and-red glitz of Las Vegas to the emerald green splendor of Macau, east Asia’s “Monte Carlo.” But some are more recognizable than others, thanks to being featured in popular movies and novels such as Ben Mezrich’s Busting Vegas, wherein a team of MIT students beat the house at the famed Monte Carlo casino.

If you’re in the mood for some real-money action, a casino online may be just the ticket. These sites often have a wider range of casino games and offer players the option to play on mobile devices, too. In addition to a huge selection of real money casino games, many online casinos also feature live dealer options.

With so many options available, it’s hard to know where to start, so here are a few of our favorites.