A Casino is an establishment that offers a variety of gambling activities. These casinos are often combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops and other attractions. The exact origins of gambling are unknown, but it has long been a popular pastime for many people. In modern times, many of the world’s most famous casinos have been developed into resorts with five-star hotel accommodations, Michelin star restaurants and designer shopping, as well as top-billed entertainment shows and celebrity performers.

In addition to the usual games, these casinos have elaborate themes and architecture that add to their opulent ambience. The Casino Baden-Baden in southwestern Germany, for example, features Belle Epoch flourishes inspired by the palaces of Versailles and was once praised by German actress Marlene Dietrich as “the most beautiful casino in the world.” In Macau, the Venetian hotel-casino transports guests to Italy with gondola rides and waterways.

Due to the large amount of money handled within a casino, both patrons and staff may be tempted to cheat or steal. This is why casinos have a range of security measures in place, such as a physical security force and a specialized surveillance department that operates closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems.

In some casinos, such as the Monte Carlo in Monaco, a physical security force patrols the gaming floor and responds to calls for assistance or suspicious activity. Other casinos employ catwalks above the gaming tables and slot machines, where surveillance personnel can look down through one-way glass to see activities at the table and on the machine.