Whether you’re betting the house on a hand of blackjack, spinning the roulette wheel or yelling at a craps table, a casino is the best place to scratch that gambling itch. While many of these temples to temptation are located in Las Vegas, they’re also found throughout the country and abroad.
Typically, casinos are staffed with croupiers who operate the games, and some even have a dedicated video poker team. These people work to ensure that the games are fair and the odds are mathematically defined and unbiased, but they can also offer perks like free drinks and luxury suites to keep gamblers coming back for more.
In terms of tables, most casinos feature baccarat (or chemin de fer in the French), blackjack and roulette, with some having poker rooms where patrons play against each other while the casino makes its profit by taking a percentage of each pot or charging an hourly fee. Some Asian casinos also feature traditional Far Eastern games such as sic bo, fan-tan and pai gow.
Gambling and casinos are often intertwined in popular party destinations like Las Vegas and Atlantic City, but these establishments make a significant contribution to the economy of the cities they’re located in, as well as their wider states and nations. Despite their sometimes seedy reputation, some casinos can be quite elegant and even offer non-gambling activities, such as restaurants and bars. So, whether you’re looking for a little glitz or to get your gamble on, check out Hopper’s list of ten casino hot spots to see what the fuss is all about.