A casino is an establishment that offers gambling. It may also offer other forms of entertainment, such as live entertainment, concerts or sports. A casino may be located in a hotel, resort, or stand-alone building. Several countries have legalized casinos. In the United States, most states have passed laws regulating their operation. Some are operated by public authorities, while others are owned and run by private corporations. Some states limit the number of casinos to prevent over-saturation of the market.

While some cities are best known for their casinos, most do not define themselves as places specifically dedicated to gambling. A few, however, are considered to be primarily or exclusively gambling centers: Monte Carlo is the world’s oldest and most famous casino, while Las Vegas is the most well-known American casino city.

As far as locations go, it doesn’t get much more romantic than the Casino di Venezia, which occupies a historic palace along Venice’s Grand Canal and is accessible by free water taxi. But it’s not the only one that has managed to wow guests with its opulence: A recent renovation of Macau’s Venetian hotel-casino made it the largest casino in the world, surpassing its former titleholder, the Casino Lisboa in Portugal. But it’s not the only big winner: Oklahoma’s WinStar World Casino, which opened in 2003, was recently named the biggest casino in North America by USA Today.