In a casino, customers gamble by playing games of chance. These may include poker, craps, roulette and slot machines. Some casinos also offer sports betting and horse racing. The casino business is regulated by law in many countries. A casino is often combined with a hotel, restaurant and other entertainment facilities. The word “casino” is derived from the Spanish word for gambling house. The exact origin is unknown, but gambling has long been part of human culture.

Throughout history, people have sought out fortune by rolling the dice, flipping cards or spinning reels. Some have even snagged jackpots that tally millions of dollars. Casinos are temples of temptation, decked out with opulent furnishings and overflowing bars where the art of gambling is elevated to high-art.

From Monte Carlo to Las Vegas, the world’s top casinos serve up glitz and glamour, overflowing buffets and plenty of chances to win big. Here are our picks for the ten best places to wager your chips and see what fate and fortune will bring you.

The MGM Grand in Las Vegas is a legendary casino known for its range of game tables, poker rooms and slot machines. It’s especially renowned for its live sports-betting area, which has 60 large plasma TVs that make it easy to place a bet on American football, boxing, martial arts or soccer. The casino has been featured in several movies, including Ocean’s Eleven. The city of San Jose in Costa Rica is home to a number of popular casinos, including the Barcelo Resort and Hotel President.