A casino is a building or room where gambling activities take place. The word is derived from the Latin cardo, meaning “coin.” Modern casinos often use high-tech security measures such as closed-circuit television and other electronic monitoring systems. Some have specially trained security staff, and many have rules requiring players to keep their hands visible at all times.
Several countries have legalized casinos. The United States has the most casinos, with 40 states offering some form of gambling. Most of these casinos are concentrated in metropolitan areas, with the largest number located in Nevada, followed by Atlantic City and Chicago. In addition to gaming, some casinos also have restaurants and hotels.
Macau, the tiny Asian gambling hub, boasts seven of the world’s ten biggest casinos. Its most dazzling is the Grand Lisboa, which looks like a birdcage topped with the world’s largest LED dome—and lives up to its surface decadence inside, where 800 table games and 1,000 slot machines are spread across multiple large and fabulously decorated floors.
The runner-up, Foxwoods Resort, is the second-biggest casino in America and sixth-biggest globally. Its 3,500 table games and slots are spread over six casino plazas, and it also has a bingo hall and keno rooms. It also features an enclave of five luxury hotel brands—including Ritz Carlton and Andaz—and more than 115 dining options. It is also home to the Michael Jackson exhibit, which includes his legendary glove from his first televised moonwalk.
