The world’s top casinos offer more than just table games and slot machines. The best of them also offer top-notch hotels, spas and restaurants, live entertainment and more. But visiting a casino like this doesn’t come cheap. You’ll likely spend a fair bit of money on your gambling vacation, though you may be able to offset some of that cost with your winnings.

The elegant spa town of Baden-Baden first became a playground for Europe’s royalty and aristocracy more than 150 years ago, and the casino it opened has been considered one of the most beautiful in the world ever since. Designed to recall Versailles and the Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy, it’s opulent and refined, with red-and-gold poker rooms and a huge roulette and blackjack floor.

Casinos often feature high-tech surveillance systems that monitor patrons and employees for evidence of cheating and theft. These systems can include electronic chip tracking, which enables casinos to oversee the exact amount wagered minute-by-minute, and warn them quickly of any statistical deviation from expected results; or wholly automated versions of roulette and dice games with built-in microcircuitry and no dealer that allow players to place bets by pushing buttons. In addition, casinos are constantly upgrading their security measures. Given the large amounts of money handled within casinos, both patrons and staff may be tempted to cheat or steal. Security cameras located throughout the property are a standard feature. These example sentences are selected automatically from various online sources to reflect current usage of the word ‘casino.’ Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors.