From the glittering megaresorts of Las Vegas to illegal pai gow parlors in New York, casinos are located all over the world. But it’s a few that have become almost synonymous with gambling. What distinguishes a top casino from the rest isn’t so much its size as its amenities. From a private plane to your hotel room to a full service spa and a branch of New York’s Le Cirque restaurant, the biggest casinos offer enough luxury to satisfy even the most avid gambler.
The largest casino in the world is located in Macau and measures a staggering 546,000 square feet. It’s a giant gaming palace that features everything from slot machines to an enormous variety of table games. It also has a variety of restaurants and retail outlets, including Hermes and Chanel. The casino also hosts regular poker tournaments.
According to the American Gaming Association, 51 million people—about a quarter of all those over 21 in the United States—visited casinos in 2002. That figure is likely to double in the next decade as more and more jurisdictions legalize casino gambling.
Tables games are a class of games that are played on a board and require a wager in real money. They generally depend on luck, although some do involve strategy and skill. Examples include the Spanish game of Alfonso’s Los Doze Canes, the English games of Catch Dolt and Doublets, the French games of Renette, Tables Rabattues and Paumecary, and the Icelandic game of Ofanfelling.
