A casino is a facility for certain types of gambling. Some casinos are standalone and serve only casino games; others combine gambling with hotel accommodations, restaurants, retail shops, or other tourist attractions. Some states have laws regulating or prohibiting casino gambling. In the United States, casinos are usually located in towns with high populations of tourists or near water. Some are built on Indian reservations, which are exempt from state antigambling statutes.

The elegant spa town of Baden-Baden first became a playground for European royalty and aristocracy 150 years ago, and its casino is among the most luxurious in the world, with baroque flourishes evoking Versailles and an atmosphere that inspired actress Marlene Dietrich to call it the most beautiful. The casino’s poker rooms and blackjack tables are a favorite of visitors, who can also enjoy a wide variety of electronic games and slots.

In the United States, some casinos cater to the needs of small bettors, reducing their house edge to less than 1 percent on roulette and craps, while others focus on high-rollers with tables offering higher limits. Slot machines and video poker are the economic mainstays of many American casinos, with players betting sums ranging from five cents to a dollar or more per spin.

Caesars Palace’s casino opened in 1968, and the iconic establishment has since hosted a roster of luminaries that includes Frank Sinatra (who reportedly had an argument with a manager that led to his firing from the circus-themed Cirque du Soleil show “The Colosseum”). In addition to its 1,324 slot machines, the casino features 185 table games, including blackjack, craps, English roulette, French roulette, and poker, such as Texas Hold’Em Bonus Poker, Pai Gow, and Let It Ride.