A casino is a gambling establishment that offers a wide variety of games of chance. Some casinos also offer table games and live entertainment. Casinos are very popular and a large part of the hospitality industry. Some of them are incredibly extravagant. For example, the Caesars Palace on the Las Vegas Strip is known for its Roman-themed architecture and star-studded entertainment. It has played host to Frank Sinatra, Liberace, Dolly Parton and many other famous entertainers.
There are hundreds of casinos around the world, with the United States leading the race to have the most. It is no wonder as the country has a long history of casino gambling and a huge population of avid gamblers. However, casino gambling has not always been legal in all areas. In fact, it was illegal until 1978 when the first legal casino opened its doors in Atlantic City. During the 1980s, many American Indian reservations were granted licenses to operate casinos and some states amended their antigambling laws to allow them as well.
Casinos are designed to be stimulating to the senses, using lights and sounds to lure gamblers. They usually have a wide variety of games to choose from and they are arranged in a way that patrons are constantly enticed by more options. Most casinos have restaurants and bars, and the noise from the machines and tables is often masked by music and other ambient sounds. Some casinos even have catwalks that enable surveillance personnel to look down directly on players from a high vantage point.