In these temples of decadence, decked out with opulent furnishings and overflowing bars, gambling is elevated to an art form. The games range from blackjack to poker to craps, and all are played on a dazzling expanse of marble or glass.
In modern casinos, security is divided between a physical force and a specialized surveillance department that operates the closed-circuit television system (known as “the eye in the sky”). The casino’s head of security is usually present to monitor activities and answer questions.
Oftentimes, a casino is combined with other types of entertainment to form a complex that includes hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, and even cruise ships. For example, the Casino at Monte Carlo is both a casino and a world-famous tourist attraction.
The biggest casinos in the world are located in places that are well known for gambling. Las Vegas is the first that comes to mind, but surprisingly, it doesn’t have the largest casino in America, which is found in Thackerville, Oklahoma. Macau, on the other hand, is quickly becoming the East Asian version of Vegas with several sprawling casinos. The Grand Lisboa, in particular, is a behemoth, with over a million LED lights covering its façade. Its gaming area is just as impressive, with over 250 tables and thousands of slot machines. The hotel also houses a high-end shopping center and a number of unique restaurants and bars. The casino was designed by Mauro Codussi and was originally part of the Theatre Saint Moses.
