A Casino is a gambling establishment, where customers gamble using cash or paper tickets that represent cash. Many casinos also offer other forms of entertainment, such as live music or comedy shows. In some countries, casinos are combined with hotels or resorts. The word casino is also used for gambling games played in other settings, such as schools or private parties.

There are casinos, and then there are the really big ones. Featuring sprawling indoor spaces and acres of palatial grounds, these behemoths can impress even the most jaded of visitors with their sheer size.

While there are no official records on the number of people who visit casinos, some estimates place the number in the tens of millions. These behemoths are more than just gambling dens: they offer five-star hotel accommodations, Michelin star restaurants, designer shops, and top-billed entertainment shows.

Regardless of their size, all casinos have one thing in common: they offer a chance to win money by betting on the outcome of random events. In most cases, the house has a mathematical advantage over players, which can be measured as expected value (or more precisely, by calculating the set of optimal plays in a game such as blackjack) or, when players compete against each other, as the commission taken by the house in poker called rake.

The world’s most famous casino is the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, which boasts a massive gaming floor and state-of-the-art sports betting facilities. Its Roman-themed architecture and legendary clientele — including Frank Sinatra, Liberace, and Dolly Parton — have made it a must-see for visitors to the Strip.